Sea of Flags Eurovision in Australia for over 30 years, to choose a performer and they eventually picked Mauboy. Her appearance would mark the first time Australia has been represented at Eurovision and she would become the first solo artist from a non-European Broadcasting Union country to perform as a guest. However, Mauboy is not the first Australian to perform in the contest as Olivia Newton John, The New Seekers and Gina G have previously taken part as competing acts representing the United Kingdom. Mauboy told Fairfax Media that she planned to use her Eurovision exposure as a way in to tour Europe.
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 Belgium was represented by Bob Benny, with the song '"September, gouden roos", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. The song was chosen in the national final on 29 January. Benny had previously represented Belgium in the 1959 contest. Future Belgian entrant Jacques Raymond (1963 & 1971) finished runner-up in the final. The venue and host of the national final are currently unknown. Six songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" jury. It is not known by what system the songs