Less than 2% of Australian brides and fiances proposed to their partners: time to #QVtakealeapÂ
One of the most famous traditions around the 'leap year' is that women propose to men on the rare date of 29 February, falling just once in four years. This leap year, media personality Gretel Killeen is calling on women who have proposed or are serious about proposing to #QVtakealeap and celebrate with an adventurous day at QV Melbourne. #QVtakealeap @QVmelbourne
In a February 2016 study of recent Australian brides, fiancées and women with long-term partners via Australia's leading and largest bridal fair One Fine Day, QV Melbourne found that less than 2% of all respondents had proposed to their partners with just 4% considering popping the question.
"I've always felt there is too much pressure placed on men to propose, and because of this I didn't want my partner Adam (Martin) to feel like he had to do it. Around September last year I got wind that he was thinking of proposing, so I decided to come up with my own plan," says survey respondent Cat Jansz.
"I was determined to make him to feel as special and important as he makes me feel. What better way to do that then to ask for his hand in marriage? It ended up being the best surprise; he had no clue what was coming! I proposed to him under the guise of an early birthday present with a day of adventures like The Amazing Race."
While 45% admitted they would have considered proposing if their partners had not done so first, 49% attested they would never propose to a male partner.
Conversely, 66% agreed that the idea that women shouldn't propose to men is old fashioned. Yet less than 6% of the same women are actually proposing or thinking about it. So what's stopping them?
Comic, author and media personality Gretel Killeen proposed to her now ex husband.
"I can't believe more women don't propose. We've fought for equality in every sphere of life, yet when it comes to proposing we gleefully abandon our power and give it all to the bloke," says Gretel, who was also the Director of Presentations for Tedx Sydney 2013.
"I say come on girls, proposes this Monday! What have you got to lose? I mean sure, the guy might say no"¦but according to tradition, if he doesn't accept then he has to give the girl a gift. So it's a win, win for the ladies. Seize the day!"
Gretel is also encouraging women who have proposed or are serious about proposing to #QVtakealeap this Leap Year Day with a cheeky couples challenge at QV Melbourne, inspired by Cat's proposal story.
At 10:00am on Leap Year Day, Monday 29 February, Cat and Adam will complete an adventurous set of challenges along with four other lucky couples. Some big prizes are up for grabs with every entrant winning something.
Enter #QVtakealeap by emailing qvreception@dexus.com with the story of how you would like to propose or how you did propose to your partner.
2. Complete a warrior course at Fitness First
3. Recreate a special flower arrangement at Flower Temple
4. Shop for cocktail ingredients at Woolworths
5. Mix the cocktail at Father's Office (using Woolworth's ingredients)
6. Build a giant burger stack at Grill'd
7. Score a strike at Strike Bowling
8. And finally, wolf down a spicy dish at Red Spice QV before racing back to QV Square!
The couple that completes the challenges and arrives back at QV Square first will receive a Harvey Norman Home Theatre System and Smart TV to the value of $3000. The runners up will receive his and hers Electra Light urban bicycles from Cycles Galleria valued at $1700.
The couple who places third in the race will win 'Date Night at QV Melbourne' for a month (4 nights out valued at $750), including cocktails at Father's Office, dinners at Red Spice QV, Meat Fish Wine and Meshiya Teppanyaki Bar, desserts at Max Brenner, and a Strike Bowling and Escape Room package.
A mini home makeover from Domayne Furniture (valued at $500) will be awarded to fourth place, but the last couple to finish won't go home empty handed with 50 kilos of apples thanks to Woolworths. How do you like them apples?
But perhaps the greatest prize of all will be that 'yes' from a special man.
One Fine Day is Australia's most stylish and creative Wedding Fair, showcasing a handpicked collection of sought after vendors in the wedding field. The next fair is in Perth on 17 April at Claremont Showgrounds with tickets available here. Visit their directory at onefinedayweddingfair.com.au to find the best wedding and events businesses in Australia.
QV offers the quintessential Melbourne laneway experience with the very best of the city's shopping, dining and lifestyle destinations under one roof. QV is home to 120 retail stores including premium fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants.
Located in the central retail district of Melbourne's CBD, QV Melbourne comprises an entire city block between Swanston, Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale and Russell Streets. The 24-hour precinct is home to Melbourne CBD's largest Woolworths and Big W, Dan Murphy's, Harvey Norman and Domayne, Officeworks and Platinum Fitness First, as well as two office towers, a five level retail shopping centre, two residential towers and basement car park. www.qv.com.au
Gretel has hosted Logie Award winning TV, won a Mo Award for her writing and spent 17 years as one of Australia's top voice artists. She was the 2013 Director of Presentations for TEDx Sydney, has taught 'presenting' at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and, for seven years, as the TV host of Big Brother, led millions of viewers through the precariously unpredictable maze of live television.
She has performed in The Rocky Horror Show, produced TV packages in Afghanistan, written and directed a documentary on AIDS orphans in Zambia, directed CSAs in India, hosted commercial and ABC radio, journeyed to Ache, Bangladesh and Laos as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveled to Namibia, Antarctica and Lebanon as a travel writer, worked as a journalist for Australia's major publications, written and directed a feature film and written more than twenty books, several of which have been best sellers.
Located in the central retail district of Melbourne's CBD, QV Melbourne comprises an entire city block between Swanston, Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale and Russell Streets. The 24-hour precinct is home to Melbourne CBD's largest Woolworths and Big W, Dan Murphy's, Harvey Norman and Domayne, Officeworks and Platinum Fitness First, as well as two office towers, a five level retail shopping centre, two residential towers and basement car park.
QV is the redevelopment of Melbourne's historic Queen Victoria Women's Hospital site. In March 1846 Melbourne's forefathers laid the foundation stone for the Princes Bridge and, as part of the same ceremony, a foundation stone was also laid at the Queen Victoria Women's Hospital (at the time named Melbourne Hospital), making this area of great historical significance. The Queen Victoria Women's Centre, at 210 Lonsdale Street, has remained untouched during the construction of QV, with the precinct working around the historic building to provide a wonderful contrast between old and new. QV's principally open-air, pedestrian-only, laneway network provides a rich cultural link to the site's history, with names carefully chosen to embrace the area's heritage. The QV precinct is a block footprint of Robert Hoddle's original plan of Melbourne. www.qv.com.au
"I've always felt there is too much pressure placed on men to propose, and because of this I didn't want my partner Adam (Martin) to feel like he had to do it. Around September last year I got wind that he was thinking of proposing, so I decided to come up with my own plan," says survey respondent Cat Jansz.
"I was determined to make him to feel as special and important as he makes me feel. What better way to do that then to ask for his hand in marriage? It ended up being the best surprise; he had no clue what was coming! I proposed to him under the guise of an early birthday present with a day of adventures like The Amazing Race."
While 45% admitted they would have considered proposing if their partners had not done so first, 49% attested they would never propose to a male partner.
Conversely, 66% agreed that the idea that women shouldn't propose to men is old fashioned. Yet less than 6% of the same women are actually proposing or thinking about it. So what's stopping them?
Comic, author and media personality Gretel Killeen proposed to her now ex husband.
"I can't believe more women don't propose. We've fought for equality in every sphere of life, yet when it comes to proposing we gleefully abandon our power and give it all to the bloke," says Gretel, who was also the Director of Presentations for Tedx Sydney 2013.
"I say come on girls, proposes this Monday! What have you got to lose? I mean sure, the guy might say no"¦but according to tradition, if he doesn't accept then he has to give the girl a gift. So it's a win, win for the ladies. Seize the day!"
Gretel is also encouraging women who have proposed or are serious about proposing to #QVtakealeap this Leap Year Day with a cheeky couples challenge at QV Melbourne, inspired by Cat's proposal story.
At 10:00am on Leap Year Day, Monday 29 February, Cat and Adam will complete an adventurous set of challenges along with four other lucky couples. Some big prizes are up for grabs with every entrant winning something.
Enter #QVtakealeap by emailing qvreception@dexus.com with the story of how you would like to propose or how you did propose to your partner.
Gretel will direct couples to 'take a leap' at QV and complete the following challenges:
1. Dress themselves in matching costumes at Big W2. Complete a warrior course at Fitness First
3. Recreate a special flower arrangement at Flower Temple
4. Shop for cocktail ingredients at Woolworths
5. Mix the cocktail at Father's Office (using Woolworth's ingredients)
6. Build a giant burger stack at Grill'd
7. Score a strike at Strike Bowling
8. And finally, wolf down a spicy dish at Red Spice QV before racing back to QV Square!
The couple that completes the challenges and arrives back at QV Square first will receive a Harvey Norman Home Theatre System and Smart TV to the value of $3000. The runners up will receive his and hers Electra Light urban bicycles from Cycles Galleria valued at $1700.
The couple who places third in the race will win 'Date Night at QV Melbourne' for a month (4 nights out valued at $750), including cocktails at Father's Office, dinners at Red Spice QV, Meat Fish Wine and Meshiya Teppanyaki Bar, desserts at Max Brenner, and a Strike Bowling and Escape Room package.
A mini home makeover from Domayne Furniture (valued at $500) will be awarded to fourth place, but the last couple to finish won't go home empty handed with 50 kilos of apples thanks to Woolworths. How do you like them apples?
But perhaps the greatest prize of all will be that 'yes' from a special man.
One Fine Day is Australia's most stylish and creative Wedding Fair, showcasing a handpicked collection of sought after vendors in the wedding field. The next fair is in Perth on 17 April at Claremont Showgrounds with tickets available here. Visit their directory at onefinedayweddingfair.com.au to find the best wedding and events businesses in Australia.
QV offers the quintessential Melbourne laneway experience with the very best of the city's shopping, dining and lifestyle destinations under one roof. QV is home to 120 retail stores including premium fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants.
Located in the central retail district of Melbourne's CBD, QV Melbourne comprises an entire city block between Swanston, Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale and Russell Streets. The 24-hour precinct is home to Melbourne CBD's largest Woolworths and Big W, Dan Murphy's, Harvey Norman and Domayne, Officeworks and Platinum Fitness First, as well as two office towers, a five level retail shopping centre, two residential towers and basement car park. www.qv.com.au
Gretel Killeen - Biography
Gretel Killeen's career started as an accidental stand-up comic when she was attempting to present a profound poem. Since then she has written and performed comedy on radio and TV, performed live on stage across Australia, in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq, and for the troops in East Timor, The Solomon Islands and Egypt.Gretel has hosted Logie Award winning TV, won a Mo Award for her writing and spent 17 years as one of Australia's top voice artists. She was the 2013 Director of Presentations for TEDx Sydney, has taught 'presenting' at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and, for seven years, as the TV host of Big Brother, led millions of viewers through the precariously unpredictable maze of live television.
She has performed in The Rocky Horror Show, produced TV packages in Afghanistan, written and directed a documentary on AIDS orphans in Zambia, directed CSAs in India, hosted commercial and ABC radio, journeyed to Ache, Bangladesh and Laos as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveled to Namibia, Antarctica and Lebanon as a travel writer, worked as a journalist for Australia's major publications, written and directed a feature film and written more than twenty books, several of which have been best sellers.
About QV Melbourne
QV offers the quintessential Melbourne laneway experience with the very best of the city's shopping, dining and lifestyle destinations under one roof. QV is home to 120 retail stores including premium fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants.Located in the central retail district of Melbourne's CBD, QV Melbourne comprises an entire city block between Swanston, Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale and Russell Streets. The 24-hour precinct is home to Melbourne CBD's largest Woolworths and Big W, Dan Murphy's, Harvey Norman and Domayne, Officeworks and Platinum Fitness First, as well as two office towers, a five level retail shopping centre, two residential towers and basement car park.
QV is the redevelopment of Melbourne's historic Queen Victoria Women's Hospital site. In March 1846 Melbourne's forefathers laid the foundation stone for the Princes Bridge and, as part of the same ceremony, a foundation stone was also laid at the Queen Victoria Women's Hospital (at the time named Melbourne Hospital), making this area of great historical significance. The Queen Victoria Women's Centre, at 210 Lonsdale Street, has remained untouched during the construction of QV, with the precinct working around the historic building to provide a wonderful contrast between old and new. QV's principally open-air, pedestrian-only, laneway network provides a rich cultural link to the site's history, with names carefully chosen to embrace the area's heritage. The QV precinct is a block footprint of Robert Hoddle's original plan of Melbourne. www.qv.com.au