Australian Times newspaper: 19 June 2012 edition

SPORT P12VOICES P5 TRAVEL P7

19 - 25 June 2012 – Issue: 417

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SOUTH AFRICAN DREAMING

Make like a fairy (penguin) and hit

Saffa-land, local style

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V&A: VERY AWESOME

Be amazed by the world’s largest

in London

n Prime Minister Gillard urges Europe to implement expansionary policies to rescue itself from the debt crisis, pointing to Australia as a model of growth with fiscal discipline.

Australian media landscape set to changeTHE former editor-in-chief of The Age newspaper, Andrew Jaspan, voiced a commonly held view of embattled media company Fairfax’s job-slashing, paper-shrinking and paywall-raising plan to save its digital life.

“It’s too late,” the now editor of online journal The Conversation said on Monday.

Fairfax announced on Monday that it will cut 1,900 jobs, reduce its flagship broadsheet newspapers in size to tabloid, and close its two major printing presses in Sydney and Melbourne in a bid to cut hundreds of millions from its ballooning costs.

The 170-year-old publisher will also introduce paid subscription paywalls to access online content from 2013, and promote a digital first strategy aimed at capturing the online market where three-quarters of its readers are now found.

Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood launched the restructure, to the shock of his staff, on Monday under the banner of Fairfax of the Future.

“We are taking decisive actions to fundamentally change the way we do business,” Mr Hywood said.

Fairfax’s share price has traded at historic lows of around 60 cents in recent weeks and the company

DO IT THE AUSSIE WAY, GILLARD TELLS EUROPE

OZ HORSE HISTORY IN UK

Ascot: Can Black Caviar continue her record run?

AND THEY’RE OFF!The Aussie director that’s making UK opera cool again | P6

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AT THIS week’s G20 meeting in Mexico, Prime Minister Julia Gillard boasted about the Australian economy and urged European leaders to follow our example.

Ms Gillard was speaking to business leaders at a B20 forum being held on the sidelines of the G20 she was attending on Sunday and Monday.

The prime minister said while some countries were opting to spend their way out of the problem, others were facing austerity measures which had angered voters and threatened stability.

“A more sophisticated understanding of the connection between economic growth and fiscal discipline is emerging, and not before time,” she said.

Ms Gillard offered Australia, which has an expanding economy and is on track to produce a $1.5 billion surplus in 2012/13, as a model to achieve that goal.

Earlier, on arriving in Mexico, Ms Gillard told reporters, “Whilst the Australian economy is strong, this meeting of the G20 comes at a time when yet again all eyes are on Greece and we see a faltering economy in Europe.”

“What happens in Europe does matter to the economy of Australia because Europe is the single biggest economic zone in the world.” she said.

The prime minister added she would be telling her European counterparts that they need to work on further banking and fiscal integration, but that better integration was not enough.

“Ultimately the answer to this economic crisis is growth. It is growth that enables you to keep jobs and investment ... and put your budget on a sustainable footing,” she said.

Ms Gillard said she would be pushing for each G20 nation to commit to

specific action plans on jobs and growth and also be speaking out against trade protectionism.

She also said she wanted to see other nations make renewed commitments to the International Monetary Fund, as Australia had done at last year’s G20 summit in Cannes.

The prime minister declined to

comment on the latest Galaxy poll, which showed the coalition holding an election-winning lead.

In Canberra, Treasurer Wayne Swan backed Ms Gillard’s messages, saying the problems in Europe could not be fixed by one summit or one election in Greece and that there must be a pan-European approach to address the crisis

“once and for all”.“Only by moving forward with fiscal

and political integration can Europe be saved,” he said.

Mr Swan said Europe needed to outline and deliver credible fiscal plans to boost consumption and investment in the short-

19 - 25 June 20122 | News

the hard word> NATHAN MOTTON

Publisher: Bryce LowryEditor: Tim MartinProduction/Design: Jackie LampardAustralia Editor: Ashlea MaherMusic Editor: Paul JudgeContributors: Bianca Soldani, Shannon Crane, Kate Ausburn, Sara Newman, Justin Ng, Phill Browne, Kristy Kenny, Carmen Allan, Mario Hannah, Amy Fallon, Sandra Tahmasby, Rose Callaghan, Lesley

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Share your comments on these and more stories online: AustralianTimes.co.uk

Your Say

What’s your view?

On: Fosters - How an Aussie beer conquered the British marketThis article is so far off the mark to be almost a work of fiction.Far from conquering the British market – consumption of Fosters and all lager is down. The only real growth area is Craft Ale and Real Ale. There are over 1000 microbreweries in the UK to add to established major brewers and the real ale scene is bouyant with 7% growth per annum.UK drinkers are rejecting tasteless fizz like Fosters, Carling etc in favour of beers produced in small batches by brewers that know and love their craft. Fosters may be on a lot of bars but people don’t ask for it by name – all they say is “pint of lager” please and get what they’re given.

Richard MarvellAustralianTimes.co.uk/

entertainment

You are joking, right? Even twenty years ago fosters was in every british bar like a plague! Also the idea that what we call fosters is Australian, it’s brewed (and I use the word loosely) in South Wales. Given that little creatures, vb and coopers are all relatively available in London at least, why are you concentrating on this tasteless, overgassy, chemical drek?

CarmileSteveAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

On: Abbott blames Gillard as RBA reassuresOops, can someone flick the switch on Mr Abbott’s control box from ‘totally barkingly negative’ to ‘realistic’?

James AdelaideAustralianTimes.co.uk/news

On: The dos and don’ts of the London UndergroundMore fiction than not. Every week I’m on the tube and hear plenty of chatter and I haven’t had my eyes poked out for looking at or returning someone’s glance. Get over it or go home.

MickAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

Hahahaha yes there is chatter on the tube between friends but I’ve never seen two complete strangers have a conversation. Mick, why don’t you get some positivity in your life and try and enjoy the humour of the article for what it is.. Well written, I enjoyed it and look forward to seeing more articles to come!

JessicaAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

I think the column was meant a little more light-heartedly than it was taken by Mick. It’s alright Sandra.. I’ve been there and the tube can get a little awkward!

DevAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

This article wasn’t ment to be taken seriously, it’s just for a bit of fun…

something to keep us entertained, I think it’s very well written! Well done Sandra!

JadeAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

On: A two-fingered Jubilee salute to those republicans “Why is it so wrong to possess such a high regard for an 86-year-old woman born into a position of privilege?”I disagree with your article while feeling it makes some decent arguments. However the above sentence is offensive in the extreme. The answer is because some of us believe in ‘the fair go’. Some of us believe that your worth in life comes not from the situation you were born into but the quality of your spirit, your achievements through adversity. The monarchy fundamentally relies on the notion that one family, one very small group of people, is intrinsically better than another not through achievement but through birth. To support the monarchy is to support the notion that someone is born better than another. To support this notion is un-Australian.

Josh LloydAustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

n Are we expats really surprised by the fact that three Australian cities are now rated as more expensive than London?

Dollar for pound, Australia’s cities are just overpriced

Additional content:

ARE we Aussies living in London really shocked that Sydney, Melbourne and Perth now rank among the world’s 20 most expensive cities, while the British capital dropped to 25th?

Here at The Hard Word, the news was completely expected.

It’s such a throwaway line many of us use when referring to other countries, and “how cheap they are,” but until you’ve travelled, and indeed lived abroad, it’s difficult to appreciate just how expensive Australia is to live in.

The world’s 50 most expensive cities, released this week, found Sydney had jumped to from No.14 to No.11. Melbourne also moved up, from No.21 to No.15.

Mercer principal Nathalie Constantin-Metral said: “Cities in Australia and New Zealand witnessed some of the biggest jumps, as their currencies strengthened significantly against the US dollar. Demand for rental properties has also increased significantly in all the Australian

cities, coupled with very limited availability, the result has been very tight markets and increased prices.”

I’m yet to be convinced that just because Australians get paid so well, it compensates for the high price we pay for almost everything.

I’ve written before about the rise and rise of online shopping, and how if Aussies really want to snaffle up a bargain, they need to look outside our fair shores.

But it’s more than that.After living in Melbourne for

many years, it is undoubtedly a tough city to live in. Rent prices are ludicrous. There needs to come a point when the bubble bursts and prices are restored to more historically accurate numbers. Petrol prices are at record highs, though not quite at English prices. Food, alcohol, clothes, cars, public services... you name it, it all comes with an excessively high price tag.

I was warned about London being an expensive city to live in, prior to moving here, but I just don’t see it. Yes public transport prices are out of this world, but everything else seems to this scribe as rather cheap.

Regardless, one thing London has taught me is the value of £1.

Sounds ridiculous, but bear with me. Britons don’t get paid so well. Despite everything seeming cheap, their pounds need to stretch a lot further than our dollars. £10 is worth so much more to a Brit, than $10 would be to an Aussie. Yes it’s actually worth to us more like $15, but even that doesn’t seem like a lot of money in Australia, when you consider something like a cd can cost upwards of $20. Think about how much five quid can get you here, compared with how much say eight dollars can get you back home. The contrast is enormous.

I feel as though I’ve finally shaken myself of that unshakable Antipodean mould that equates a single pound with a single dollar, and so £1 is actually worth a lot more than we would appreciate.

And so it is this power that I one day hope I can take back with me to the land of the free. If I can take back the idea that $10 (like £10) is actually a lot of money, rather than just seeing it as (almost) the price of a McDonald’s meal, maybe one day I can reconcile myself with living in Australia’s overpriced cities.

News | 3AustralianTimes.co.uk

AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

Continued from p1...


AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

Gillard calls for G20 action on growth

term and deliver sustainable budgets is the long run.

“The idea that you must choose between growth and fiscal consolidation is false,” he said.

Mr Swan warned there will be continuing volatility in Europe for some time yet.

“I do not accept that the pace and scale of action to address it has been adequate,” he added.

Just prior to the summit, Ms Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan published an open letter to G20 leaders spelling out their concerns about Europe.

The letter urges their European

counterparts to get their financial and fiscal positions in order.

In Canberra, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey ridiculed a letter.

“What we in the coalition would suggest is the prime minister and the treasurer should do less ink-based diplomacy, lecturing the Europeans with vague generalities about what they should do,” he said.

“They should spend more time focusing on addressing the vulnerabilities that they themselves have created for the Australian economy in the event of a further downturn in the developed world economy.” - With AAP

had warned of declining revenues and announced the shedding of nearly 60 jobs at its regional papers before Monday’s surprise announcement.

Mr Jaspan said the company had suffered from a failure of management, with the shift in focus to online a welcome change but one that had been resisted for too long to avoid a damaging fall in the share price, which has left the company vulnerable to a takeover by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Media academic and journalist Margaret Simons said no print company had been immune to the rise

of online media.Ms Simons said the challenge for

news organisations now was to find a sustainable model - but whatever model that was, they would be smaller, less profitable organisations.

With its share price now around 65 cents and Ms Rinehart holding nearly one-fifth of the stock, Fairfax is vulnerable to a takeover from either Ms Rinehart or a private equity firm.

If that were to happen, Ms Simons said, Fairfax may not be able to proceed with its outlined plans. - AAP

Fairfax cuts herald an age of change

19 - 25 June 20124 | Voices

chris’s kitchen

> CHRIS ARK

n Salmon is one of the most versatile species of fish in the kitchen and a damn tasty dish. This week our resident top Aussie chef in London gives us the goods on some salmon delights.

Chris’s delicious salmon cerviche salad

life afterlondon

> SHANNON CRANE

UNTIL last month, I hadn’t been on a plane since leaving London.

It’s fair to say I was rather excited about climbing onto that big white metal machine and jetting off into the clouds, even if my destination was just two hours north to Qld.

Everything was going smoothly.I had managed to squeeze all the

essentials into my carry-on bag (Tiger’s check-in luggage fees are even more ridiculous than Easyjet’s).

My liquids were ready for security, placed nicely into one of those plastic bags, and I even had my passport – forgetting that neither of these were necessary for domestic flights.

The outbound journey went well. We even managed to find our way to the hotel like professional tourists before enjoying a nice extended weekend in the Sunshine State.

It was when the time came to fly back to Melbourne that things got a little amateur.

Clinging to our budget travelling roots, we decided to take the public bus to the airport. It had done a good job of getting us from the airport to our hotel just days before, so it seemed a reasonable idea.

After checking out of our hotel and carting our luggage around Surfer’s Paradise, the time came to make our way to the airport.

First issue arose, although it was nothing to be concerned about at this stage, when we discovered the bus stop was a little further away than we’d expected. Add 10 minutes extra walking time. No biggie.

Next potential problem popped up when we got to the bus stop and looked at the timetable. Seems we’d just missed our bus and the next one wasn’t for about

Lesson learnt: Airports don’t waitn It’s been just six months since I returned to Oz and already I’ve forgotten one of the basic rules of travelling.

25 minutes.Hmmm. On top of the extra 10 minutes

of walking, this would make us about 35 minutes behind schedule.

But we were in holiday mode and didn’t bother to do the maths.

The bus came on time. We jumped on board and continued on our merry way.

Being a public bus, it was slow-moving, stopping at every stop and taking the best part of an hour to travel 20km. Exhausted from too much holiday indulgence, we fell asleep on the bus and didn’t consider the time

Once at the airport, we made our way to the check-in desk. Other than the fact that our holiday was about to end, we didn’t have a worry in the world. Again, we weren’t thinking about the time.

But with the words “check-in closed five minutes ago”, all of that instantly changed.

“What?” we asked, before checking the time and realising that yes, in fact, the airline attendant was correct.

“Come on,” we said. “We’ve only got hand luggage so just let us on”.

“No. We’ll have to try and get you on a flight tomorrow,” the Tiger staff member replied. And with that, he left.

We were left standing there, dumbfounded.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Instead I did nothing and continued to

stand there with a stupid expression on my face.

And so began our mission to recover from this mishap, starting with tracking down a member of Tiger airlines staff.

As you would expect, the only available flights for that day were ridiculously priced and, as I mentioned before, we are budget travellers at heart.

So, with no refund from the flight we weren’t allowed to board, we secured ourselves seats on another flight the following day (and let’s just ignore the fact that we both were meant to work the following morning).

We also found a cheap backpackers just five minutes’ walk from the airport – sold! There was no way we were going to miss the next flight.

While we tried to blame the mishap on the rude Tiger staff and their strict rules, we couldn’t help but feel really quite stupid. This was entirely our fault.

But when all is said and done, our holiday was a day longer, and our working week a day shorter (let’s ignore the fact that our bank accounts were harmed in this incident).

It certainly wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened. However, I don’t intend to repeat the same mistake.

I’ve learnt my lesson: airlines don’t wait. Not even for experienced, (too) relaxed travellers like myself.


Tiger Airways staff deal with stranded passengers. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

IN THE commercial kitchen salmon is used for a number of culinary purposes, so many that it’s a little mind-boggling. Anything from seared juicy steaks or ravioli filling through to soft delicate mousse binding terrines and filling to create the perfect dish.

Not only is it tasty but also it is high on the heart foundation list of top foods we should be eating regularly. Salmon can be grilled with olive oil on the BBQ, pan-fried, baked or wrapped in pastry and roasted in the oven, the options are endless.

Pretty much all of our salmon at Claridge’s Restaurant (and for general consumption in the UK) is farmed and harvested from the prestine waters of Scotland. Very similar to our tasty Tasmanian salmon, the Scottish salmon is highly prized and the farmers follow

Creating a salmon treat without heatstrict conservation guidelines.

Wild salmon is also available and while it costs a pretty penny, it is well worth the money. The flesh is much paler and has just a soft pink tone in the flesh. The taste is a richer creamy flavor, superb when partnered with lemon and sautéed spinach.

This week I am going to share a favourite but classic salmon cerviche recipe (in the hope the sun shines) for a perfect BBQ dish. Perfect when friends drop in, simple and tasty with a few cold Coronas.

Cerviche is a tasty combination of citrus juices (limes, lemons and grapefruits) and fresh herbs. The citric acid slowly denatures the proteins in the salmon, which gives the flesh a soft texture as if it was roasted in the oven. The flesh can be marinated for up to three hours but less time can be used if you like your salmon rare to medium rare in texture.

So lets get cracking on this week recipe – happy cooking and enjoy!

What you need: • 1 lime• 1 lemon• 4 spring onions• 1 red chilli• 3 tbsp sesame oil• 6 tbsp olive oil• 2 tbsp soy sauce• 1 bunch coriander• 1 tsp caster sugar• 750g of skinless salmon• Handful of salad leaves, to dress

What to do:• Take a sharp knife and cutting

board to slice the salmon.• Slice the salmon on an angle into

thin strips 1.5cm thick and place in a bowl in the fridge.

• Juice the lemon and limes into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.

• Test the sharpness of the juices; they should be balanced between sweet and sour. Add more sugar if necessary.

• Remove the salmon from the fridge

and place the slices into the mixture.• Return the bowl back to the fridge

for two hours.• After two hours, remove the salmon

from the fridge and lay the salmon on a large plate and dress with the freshly dressed leaves. Enjoy! AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

Voices | 5AustralianTimes.co.uk

bron inthe don BRONWYN SPENCER

tube talk> SANDRA TAHMASBY



n Making the most of yet another rainy day, I decided to explore the V&A Museum. Showcasing art and design, it features exhibits on, well, basically everything and anything.

By Liv HambrettNOT long ago, I met two colleagues for a drink. There we were; three women (two twenty-somethings and a fifty-something) living in a foreign country, with far too many bottles of wine. Before long, and helped along by copious glasses, conversation turned to the question that hovers above one’s head when one lives abroad; will you, could you, do you want to stay here forever? That question, along with ‘when are you coming home’ haunts me like a particularly zealous poltergeist, constantly reminding me I am suspended between two homes. Suspended between a country that is my home by birth and blood and home to my family and friends, and between a country that is home to the one I love and, by wanderlust and circumstance, also me.

As conversation flowed that night, from health care to having children, Rose, the fifty-something Briton became more and more insistent about something. The tiny, former ballerina who has stared down cancer and won and raised three children in two foreign countries, kept thrusting her wine glass in the air and saying: “Girls! Do not plan. Nothing ever goes to plan.”

At the time, it sounded romantic and liberating. Now, it sounds like the best advice I have ever received. If I can be candid for a moment; I am not where I thought I would be. I didn’t plan any of this. I planned right up until the moment

Plans vs choices – An Aussie expat’s meditationI realised I was in love with a German whose job binds him to this country. I didn’t plan on winding up in a small Bavarian town where finding work is proving to be a nerve-strumming, disheartening process. I didn’t plan on being completely and utterly caught between two countries.

When I set off for Europe, I planned on spending some time in Germany and then moving on, sampling life and work in another country. I planned on finally making my way towards a stint in London. I planned on wending my way home, eventually. Because, something I realised whilst living away from Australia, was Australia was where I planned to, ultimately, settle down.

I planned, I planned, I planned. I had it, for the most part, sort of figured out.

But then – because, like it or not, life happens – I had to stop making plans and start making choices. And here’s something I’ve learnt; choices are scarier than plans, choices have more imminent consequences. Choices are active. I had to make choices because things happened that I didn’t plan on. Like, falling in love. Him moving across the country for work. Him having to stay there for three years, minimum. And so I chose to move from the north-western city I was living in, where I had a good job and friends, where I understood the dialect, to a south-eastern town where finding work is proving extremely difficult, where I have no friends and where I have no idea

what anyone is saying. My choice, not my plan. And, if I can’t find work, I will soon have to make another choice, one that may send me home, to a place where hugging my Mum and Dad and having coffee with the girls is a daily possibility, but leaves the one I love on the other side of the world. And that, when the time comes, will be my choice alone to make.

So, here’s another thing I’ve learnt. We have to be bold when we make plans, audacious, hopeful. We have to be honest and ambitious and driven. But when we make choices we have to be brave. And we have to have faith that the decisions we make when the time comes, will be the right ones. We have to have faith that we know what we’re doing and know that, if it all comes crashing down, we have only ourselves to blame.

I used to think making plans made me an adult. Made me responsible, meant I had foresight. But, from where I am sitting in this tiny town with the weather too unpredictable to plan for, I’m finding that it is my choices that make me a grown up. It is choices, not plans, that reveal my morals and my mettle. Plans are what I want but choices are what I am capable of.

Plans are what we could be, choices are what we are.

Read more of Liv’s musings at A-biglife.com

EASILY signposted from South Kensington station, the Victoria & Albert Museum is a stunning building, crammed full with some of history’s finest creations.

Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the V&A is the largest museum of decorative arts and design in the world. The collection includes over 4.5 million objects, spanning 5,000 years of art, housed in 145 galleries.

I didn’t bother with a map. Rather, I just wandered and let the exhibits find me.

First, I stumbled across the Asian section. Similar to that in the British Museum, it features ceramics, paintings and dress from the Far East. A particular gem is the Japanese fashion, its powerful history sweeping you back into the classic world of shoguns, samurai and geishas.

I confess, I spent quite a while mesmerised by the Jewellery exhibit. What can I say? Sparkles! Diamonds so are a girl’s best friend.

One of my favourite discoveries was the Theatre and Performance display. Like a VIP back-stage pass, you can inspect costumes and set designs from London’s most glorious shows and the photos give you an intimate insight into the fabulous characters under the make-up and behind the curtains.

Then there’s that other girl’s dream – Fashion. Featuring designs and dresses through the ages, you can only drool over the frills, frocks, hats, shoes and feathers.

If fashion isn’t your thing (sorry, we can’t be friends) there’s plenty more to keep you captivated, such as

Be stunned by the V&A

the Sculptures and Carvings gallery which features everything from ivory cut with impossible intricacy to imposing iron colossuses.

Currently, there is a special exhibition on British ballgowns from the 1950s. Book it online in advance to avoid the long queue.

The other hot seller is the Innovation in the Modern Age exhibit, celebrating British art and design from the 1950’s until now.

While you’re there, don’t forget to look above and around the exhibits; the V&A building itself is a masterpiece and many fine works of art are painted or hung on the hallway walls and ceilings.

If your eyes and head need a break,

the courtyard in the middle of the museum is the perfect place to get some fresh air. Swivel around in the crazily d e s i g n e d chairs as you sip your coffee from the café.

There is so much on offer in the V&A. Too much, really. Like me, you will probably need a second visit.

SO how much do you really know about the man or woman in your life?

Our relationship has only just begun, but in three short months my new guy has done a great job in getting me to where I need to go.

Its not an exclusive relationship; it’s shared with hundreds of thousands daily. He is of a mature age; 149 years young to be exact, sharing himself across 11 other lines and arrives every two minutes. For some that may be too frequent, but with a busy lifestyle like mine, we make it work!

And he goes a long way; 402 kilometres and can take me to 270 different destinations.

Every girl likes their man to have good credentials and being the second largest metro system in the world, my man is so up there. That Shanghai

Right on track with my hot new partnern It’s a big part of your everyday life, starting with the early morning greet and ending with the evening farewell. Sometimes if you’re lucky there may even be a midday encounter.

metro must be a real spunk.Like a lot of things he isn’t perfect but

he is definitely working out his issues and just like us, sometimes can have an ‘off’ weekend where he is closed for business.

The Tube map is a “know your partner” manual that helps me work him out. If only all things in life came with such a helpful user guide.

I might sound like a nagging girlfriend and it’s not that I’m not appreciative of all that he does for me, and I would even consider him as marriage material if he had a few bonus attributes. Wi-Fi for us social activists (so I could update my relationship status on Facebook!) and most definitely air conditioning, because lets face it, it’s 2012 and it’s a must! I mean who enjoys peeling off their winter layers, or sizzling in the sticky Underground heat in the summer time?

Is that too much for a woman to ask of her Tube?

Victoria and Albert Museum, London

WEDNESDAY 4 JULYLONDON

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NEW ALBUM ‘DRINKING FROM THE SUN’ OUT NOWA METROPOLIS MUSIC PRESENTATION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH X-RAY

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HILLTOPHOODS.COM


19 - 25 June 20126 | Entertainment

For full details...

Tara Minton1 July@ Bar Solo, Camden

Hermitude2 July@ Barfly, Camden

Hilltop Hoods4 July@ Electric Ballroom

Wolfmother6 July@ IndigO2,

Cold Chisel 11 July@Shepherd’s Bush Empire

The Temper Trap11 July@ Somerset House

Bliss N Eso 17 July@ The Garage, Islington

Sneaky Sound System21 July@ Electric Brixton

BT River of Music - Oceania Stage21-22 July @ Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Xavier Rudd8 August@ Koko

Darren Hayes24 September@ IndigO2,

Gotye12 November@ Hammersmith Apollo

...and more Aussie gigs go to: AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

Check out what we’re following today on AustralianTimes.co.uk and follow

us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

What we’re following

music from the motherland

> PAUL JUDGE

Lady Gaga in Oz@GAGA_and_MDNA @ladygaga Mention “fanny pack” while you’re in Australia. “Fanny” doesn’t have the same meaning there as in the US. It’s very funny!

@bloodylucyyif i happen to meet gaga whilst she’s in australia i will ask her the following: 1. on a scale on 1 to weeing how funny was bridesmaids

@JordanGaga10‘Monsters’ saying they hate Gaga’s outfit she wore in Australia, call yourself fans, honestly!

@reesieboi#ThingsICantStand and Welcome to Australia GaGa are trending next to each other. Oh Twitter. You saa funny.

@The___ScriptDear Lady Gaga, get out of Australia, i hate you. Sincerely someone with a brain who isnt craycray.

What’s On

Review by Will FitzgibbonGARSINGTON Opera’s performance of L’Olimpiade is a musical delight and successfully comic, thanks in no small part to Australian director David Freeman.

It is hard to imagine a better Saturday. You don’t even have to like opera. But you will by the end of it.

In the grounds of British billionaire Mark Getty’s Wormsley estate, there’s a blue sky and the sun shines warm until well past 8pm. Cows and sheep wander grassy steppes in the close distance.

Then there is an opera on top of that.On this particular Saturday it is

Garsington Opera’s production of Antonio Vivaldi’s Olympic-themed L’Olimpiade, directed by Australian David Freeman, famous for his innovative and accessible operas.

Garsington, like other opera companies, is keen to attract London’s young professionals. It launched a special under 35s ticket programme this year.

What’s surprising is that more of them are not already here. Wormsley is only thirty minutes from London by car or an inexpensive train trip. It’s half a day’s travel in the country combined with a great night out combined with a picnic feast. What’s more, it’s fun!

Director David Freeman clearly wants the audience to enjoy themselves. Ridiculous plastic sheep are dragged wonkily across stage and the male performers are dressed in baggy Adidas and Nike tracksuits.

Members of the audience laugh

Recipe for fun at Garsington Opera

Garsington Opera (Mike Hoban)

constantly and without the desperate muffling that you might expect in more staid opera environments.

At Garsington, there is an air of relaxation despite even the bowties. When a helicopter flies overhead during a slow aria or when chirping birds interrupt serious discussions of State on stage, it feels more celebratory than disruptive.

Freeman even has his cast do a slow motion Olympic sprint complete with snippets of the famous melody from Chariots of Fire. In a film or play this musical reference would be trite. In an opera, however, too often preserved in its own ancientness, it is perfect. This kind of inter-textuality is what Vivaldi himself would have appreciated, the “Red Priest” being the master of reusing older material.

L’Olimpiade is an opera written for the male roles. And they are impressive at Garsington, especially Tim Mead as Licida and Emily Fons as Megacle. Mead’s cheeky red bob is as convincing as his hypnotic and slow ode to friendship.

Michael Maniaci is headshaking-in-disbelief brilliant as he trills his way through a virtuosic passage at the end of Scene Four.

Further performances of L’Olimpiade are on 22 and 29 June. See: Garsingtonopera.org

Melbourne music scene welcomes back an old friendMANY of our stories about Australia’s live music scene are often negative. Famous venues closing their doors, facing problems of the financial, legal or ‘we moved next door to the pub and don’t want any noise’ kind. The last being our most hated.

So this week with the announcement that Melbourne’s Ding Dong will be re-opening in July after a fire ripped through it last year brought a welcome cheer from the Motherland office. The fire, which started in the restaurant below the venue, caused extensive damage to Ding Dong which has hosted legendary shows from the White Stripes, Mike Patton and Peaches as well as numerous Aussie acts.

Fears were held the cost of restoring it to its original state would be too much or developers would swoop in were allayed with the owners announcing American rocker Mark Lanegan and hippy rock sisters Stonefield will be the first acts on Saturday 7 July.

The place has been decked out with a new bar, new sound and lighting and some new toilets which will be refreshing change for those frightened of dank pub dunnies. Best of all its inner city location in Chinatown means music

For he’s a Molly good fellow and a big hooroo from meand crowds is all part of the decor and no snobby new neighbour can whinge about it. Double win.

Molly puts on his hat againKeeping up the feel good stories there was another welcome return for an Australian music icon this week. Molly Meldrum made his first television appearance since his near death fall in December last year.

Meldrum was decorating his house when he fell from a ladder hitting his head and suffering serious head injuries which brought him close to death and months of rehabilitation. Appearing on Channel 7’s Sunrise he joked he lost his ‘um’s and err’s’ from his speech and didn’t know whether it was due to the fall or not having a drink for the past six months.

Appearing in his trademark Akruba hat Meldrum confirmed he will soon be returning to work, interviewing musicians in America for Channel 7. He has also become a spokesperson for awareness of head injuries amongst football players.

He spoke during the interview of the need for footballers to get regularly scanned to prevent any problems arising in later years and also prevent future fatal accidents. As a passionate supporter of St Kilda, and from his personal near-death experience, he seems the perfect person to discuss this matter.

Most importantly he’s looking well and is back in the music game.

Welcome back Molly!

Thanks for all the funOn a more somber note, well for me anyway, this is my last Motherland column. It’s been a blast bringing all the latest news from here and home for Australian music. Hopefully you’ve found it a source of humour and information (or least something to pick holes in from time to time).

Thanks to Tim and Bryce (that most dutiful Aussie Times Editor-Publisher

duo) for putting up with my spelling mistakes and my failure to understand the word deadline. I’ll still be doing the odd review and interview for the paper so you haven’t got rid of me completely yet, sorry boys.

Cheers everyone! And if there’s some live Aussie music about in London, you’ll most likely see me there, usually within easy reach of the bar. Thanks for having me - Judgie.

Travel | 7AustralianTimes.co.uktravel

ON THE MAP

This week we’re putting

South Africa

Garsington Opera (Mike Hoban)

LOCATED on the southern tip of Africa, the country famed for Nelson Mandela, biltong and a rather inconsistent rugby side has something for everyone. It is the safari, surf and scenic gateway to the African continent and is also the perfect place to break the tedious journey between Australia and the UK. With a cheap exchange rate, sunny climate and fantastic range of accommodation, South Africa is both a wonderful and economically viable place to escape.

Here in one country, an entire world awaits: from sultry sea-swept beaches to great wine, electric night life and the jaw-droppingly magical wildlife reserves.

Must be sceneSouth Africa’s scenery is simply spectacular. From untamed wilderness in the northern interior to charmingly cultivated wine lands in the south, South Africa is a true kaleidoscope of experience.

It is also rich in adventure sport amenities for the braver among us. The Bloukrans Bridge, en route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, is famed as the highest bridge jump in the world, while the nearby Tugela River hosts some exciting white water rafting courses.

The Drakensburg in Kwazulu/Natal is a world heritage site credited with some of the most difficult hikes on Earth, but is also full of comfortable mountain resorts catering for the whole family.

n South Africa is the pot of gold at the end of the African rainbow. CANDACE WATERMEYER gives a local’s insight into this amazing country and advice on some different trips you can do to make you time in South Africa suit your needs.

Across the whole country activities such as quad biking, mountain biking, horse riding and multiple water sports are easily accessible, with many tour operators offering specialised packages.

Another way to take in South Africa’s scenery is to self-drive the beautiful Garden Route, which meanders northeast along a stunning stretch of coastline from Cape Town. This route includes the towns of Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and finally Nature’s Valley, each with its own unique attractions. You can enjoy a walk in the forests of Sedgfield, watch for whales at the Knysna Heads or stroll for miles on uninterrupted beach in the unspoilt tranquillity of wilderness.

Cape-divatingFor many, Cape Town is the highlight of a South African holiday. This cosmopolitan city is breathtakingly beautiful and teeming with national heritage. There is much to do and see, so be sure to set aside at least four days.

Accommodation is widely available, and prices vary with location and season. Options range from luxury hotels to backpackers lodges as well as many self-catering options, including private designer villas.

Table Mountain is a definite must see, and you can either hike to the top or take a cable car. After taking some

photographs of the incredible views, relax with a beer or lunch in Table Top Pub, do some curio shopping and send a postcard from the resident post box.

For a wholly unique experience, take a tour to one of the many townships surrounding the city. This is an excursion you will never forget, and will give you a true picture of what life is like for many South Africans, while providing a chance for you to sample some of the country’s most enterprising local industry. Never visit the townships on your own, as this could be dangerous. Instead, choose a tour that includes transport to and from the township from a public meeting point.

A further place of interest is the V&A Waterfront, a developed harbour with restaurants, shops and tourist attractions such as the Nelson Mandela Gateway. Here you can book a trip to nearby Robben Island and learn more about the Freedom Struggle and Apartheid. This tour is very interesting and will also afford some fantastic views of Cape Town from across the bay.

Cape Town is a perfect base for exploring the adjoining region of rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads known to locals as the ‘wine routes’. The most popular and well-known routes are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl, all with exquisite scenery and stops along the way. Many wine farms offer guided tours with an opportunity to taste their award-winning samples.

Go wildSouth Africa is home to many wildlife reserves and game parks, most easily accessible from all the main airports. It is here that you will have an opportunity to spot the Big Five: Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Rhino and Buffalo, as well

as many other varieties of animals indigenous only to Africa. If you have never seen one of these exquisite creatures in the wild before, a safari holiday will be an indescribable thrill.

Located in rugged savannah, many game reserves cater for both the luxury and budget markets, with either fully or self-catered accommodation available. The most well-known game reserve is Kruger National Park which hosts a wide range of accommodation and safari packages.

The general order of the day is to book a few game drives at sunrise, sunset or late afternoon, and spend the rest of the day languishing around the pool or going on day-excursions to the surrounding areas. You can, of course, also drive around the reserve in your own hired car. At night, you can usually expect to be entertained with African dancing and exotic meals, often under a starry African sky.

Surf’s upJeffrey’s Bay is a destination on every surfer’s wish list. The host of the Billabong 500, its magnificent beaches are matched only by the perfect, hollowed waves it offers up on a daily basis. Located on the lower half of the Eastern Coast, this charming seaside town is only 45minutes away from Port Elizabeth International Airport.

Further south along this coastal route are many other quality surf spots such as Seal Point (famous for Bruce’s Beauties), Still Bay and Dungeons.

Warning, warning!Don’t worry: lions and giraffes do not freely wonder the streets of South Africa; they are kept safe in the game reserves. You will probably find South Africa surprisingly well developed, especially in the main tourist areas. When travelling in South Africa, it helps to be sensible and cautious at all times - as enchanting as the country is; it is also affected by a high crime rate due to widespread poverty. Follow the obvious rules such as keeping your valuables out of sight, never carrying large amounts of cash and keeping a copy of your identity documents separate from your originals.When driving, do not stop for anyone along the roadside.

Another good place to surf is Durban’s North Beach, home to the Annual Mr Price Pro Surf Contest and good for a decent wave year-round. Staying along Durban’s beachfront will also introduce you to its wide array of nightclubs,

19 - 25 June 20128 | Travel

top class eateries and weekly outdoor markets. Hire a car and drive south along the coastal route to find some secluded and less crowded surf spots of your very own. Be aware that some beaches are not protected by lifeguards or shark nets, so you will surf at your own risk.

The best way for a surfer to travel to South Africa is to fly to Durban or Port Elizabeth and hire a car for a self-drive surf safari, with the best time for surf being April to September.

Insider tipsWhile it is advisable to do the many trips outlined here in your own way with a hire car, there are many tour operators that provide exciting packages for every taste. You can find much of this information on the official tourism website: www.southafrica.net

It is probably more time efficient to fly between major cities such as Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town

Useful websitesTourism: Official South African Tourism website - Southafrica.netAnother quality tourism website - Tourism.org.zaGame Reserves: Good overview of most game reserves in South Africa - Southafrica-travel.net/Parks/e_parks.htmKruger National Park - Krugerpark.co.zaSurfing: Pure Vacations have good information on surfing South Africa - Purevacations.com/surf/safricaWannasurf has a great surf spots atlas for South Africa - Wannasurf.com/spot/Africa/South_AfricaTours: Tour operator based in South Africa - Indula.co.za

unless you are planning on doing one of the scenic routes. These roads are safe, well-marked and exceptionally maintained, except in rural and non-tourist areas. Kalula, South Africa’s answer to Easyjet, flies between the major centres for the equivalent of £40.

Most people in South Africa speak English, and you will find them generally friendly and eager to help visitors, so feel free to ask for directions or advice. Public transport can be nightmarish if you do not know what you are doing, so do not attempt it unless being escorted by locals who you know and trust. It is generally easiest to hire a car or rely on tour services.

You can buy nearly everything you will need for travelling in South African very cheaply once in the country, so leave space in your suitcase for all the goodies you will surely bring back. Feel free to barter for items, as this is a widely accepted custom especially in

outdoor market settings.

Contact us at:www.andersontours.co.uk | PH: 02074369304 www.facebook.com/andersontours Twitter: @AndersonTours Blog: andersontravelgroup.blogspot.co.uk

All our short breaks depart on a Friday & return on a Sunday and are inclusive of return travel & transfers, 2 nights B&B hotel accommodation, guided city sightseeing tour, plenty free time & services of a Tour Manager.

Paris by Eurostar from £225ppDeparts every week ( Friday – Sunday) throughout the Summer

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Holland & Belgium from £171ppDeparts: 22nd June, 20th July, 10th August, 25th August & 14th September

All our day trips include return coach travel from central London, guided city sightseeing tour, services of a tour manager & entrances to attractions (where applicable)

STONEHENGE & BATH – every day from £48ppOXFORD & STRATFORD – every day from £45ppEVERY MONTH: A day in Wales, Isle of Wight, Cambridge, Windsor & Hampton Court Palace & Brighton. (See website for dates & prices)

No more than 15 people. Go to places the bigger coaches can’t get too! From just £58ppEvery day: Stonehenge, Glastonbury & Avebury, Oxford, Stratford & CotswoldsEvery Saturday & Sunday: Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs of Dover

Royal Ascot – 23rd June Only £69Incl: return coach travel, silver ring enclosure ticket, refreshments (incl bubbles)Edinburgh Festival & Tatoo – 3rd & 10th August. Only £289Incl: return train travel, Tatoo ticket, B&B hotel accommodation & sightseeing with local Scottish Guide

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Travel | 9AustralianTimes.co.uk

They’ve just been knocked out of the Euro Football Championships but Holland is still

one of the party capitals of the world. Add to that, a cheeky trip to Belgium, one of the

beer capitals of the world and you have yourself a winning European jaunt! Anderson

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To get £5 off – use promo code: aussie when booking via AndersonTours.co.uk

Hankering for some French love? Longing to see the sights of Paris? Anderson Tours are

offering a special Eurostar tour this weekend (Friday 22 June – Sunday 24 June) to the French

capital for only £249. Tour package includes: Return Eurostar travel and return transfers, guided

sightseeing tour of Paris, 2 nights B&B hotel accommodation either at the Ibis Hotel or Tim

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off – use promo code: aussie when booking via AndersonTours.co.uk

See the Queen, see our Aussie star horse Black Caviar and much much more at Royal Ascot

this Saturday, 23 June, for only £69. The Anderson Tours package includes: Return luxury

coach transport from central London, light refreshments (including bubbles!!) and Silver Ring

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19 - 25 June 201210 | Jobs & Money

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Changes to family migration rules for partners

Yes, the UK Home Office has announced changes to the UK immigration rules that will affect non-

EEA nationals applying to enter or remain in the UK on the family migration route. The changes will apply to new applicants from 9 July 2012 and include inter alia the following; A new minimum income threshold of £18,600 will be introduced to sponsor the settlement of a non-EEA spouse, partner, fiancé, proposed civil partner. This threshold will increase for any children sponsored, to the amount of £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child. The minimum probationary period for settlement for non-EEA spouses and partners will be increased from the current two years to five years in order to test the genuineness of the relationship. The route to immediate settlement, for migrant spouses and partners where a couple have been living together overseas for at least four years, will be abolished. In the light of these stringent new measures that are coming into effect soon, BIC would like to advise all clients who want to make use of the family migration route, to do so as soon as possible in order to avoid these stringent new immigration measures.

Can you please tell me what the new changes to the family migration

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Dollar ReviewPromotion

Give me a home among the gum trees. What’s it cost please?If you’ve been away from home for a while and are thinking of returning to Australia (or thinking of moving there!) you might want to book a seat at the upcoming Australian Property Info Sessions - held in London for 4 days from Thursday 21 June to Sunday 24 June.THE sessions are hosted by experienced Melbourne property developer Central Equity who is widely credited as the pioneer of inner-city apartment living in Melbourne and are one of the city’s most experienced developers.

These highly informative sessions can help you learn more about buying, leasing and managing a Melbourne property while still living in the UK. There will be a discussion on such topics as how to purchase property in Melbourne (including necessary documentation), why the Australian economy is now the envy of the developed world, and what government incentives are aimed at encouraging investment in property.

For instance – Aussies living in

the UK might have missed hearing that the popular First Home Owners Bonus is now finishing at the end of June. This will be the final opportunity for qualified buyers to take advantage of up to AUD$20,000 in government grants!

A range of brand new Melbourne properties will be available to inspect including Central Equity’s latest Melbourne apartment project. The project is so new it is not even named yet, however it can be revealed that prices will start from AUD$279,000.

The apartments are located just metres from Melbourne’s oldest park, Flagstaff Gardens and are also walking distance to the CBD, premier shopping and dining precincts, underground train stations and Melbourne and RMIT Universities. This highly desirable location is also close to major hospitals, the legal precinct, plus many corporate headquarters and large businesses.

A contemporary building both inside and out, the project features a range of cleverly designed apartments with efficient open plan layouts that maximise access to sun-light and outlooks. The building also makes use of a rooftop

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Australian Property Info Sessions will be held in London for 4 days commencing Thursday 21 June to Sunday 24 June at the Sheraton Park Tower, 101 Knightsbridge London.

Contact Central Equity today to book your free seat – 020 7235 2715 or visit www.australianproperty.com

THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR and other risk-sensitive currencies have seen gains over the weekend as markets adjust to election results in Greece. News that Greece’s conservative New Democracy party is set to form a pro-bail-out coalition government following Sunday’s ballot re-run, fuelled the initial movement as fears of a Greek Euro exit abate. The rally dampened early Monday morning though as relief over the election results gave way to renewed caution, with the reality that the new coalition government may be short lived. The New Democratic Party has entered into informal talks with the Socialist Pasok party. An announcement is expected on Wednesday signalling the Coalition agreement between the two parties.

Aussie rises on Greece election newsThe Australian Dollar was trading at 0.797 Euro in Monday morning trading at 0.641 British Pounds.Market sentiment seems to be that the Aussie will remain relatively range bound over the next few days as markets eagerly await news of the coalition negotiations in Athens. However, Alex Sinton, a trader for ANZ, was cited as saying that whilst the election results have kept Greece open to the possibility of remaining within the Eurozone, there is still a lot that must be fixed. He pointed out the election itself has fixed nothing.

GBP/AUD: 1.5583EUR/AUD: 1.2531AUD/USD: 1.008AUD/JPY: 79.388

Exchange Rates at 08:49, 18 June 2012

Composed by Monique Chapman :: Note: The above exchange rates are based on “interbank” rates. If you want to transfer money to or from Australia then please register/login on our website, www.1stcontactforex.com, or call us for a live dealing rate. Make use of a Rate Notifier to send you alert when the Australian exchange rate reaches levels you are looking for.

Sport | 11AustralianTimes.co.uk

AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON OLYMPICS 5 weeks to go

By Will Denton


THE RUBDOWN

Wet, wild and veryweird in AFL world




High stakes for favourite, Black Caviarrequire a hat or fascinator and can’t go strapless, men must sport a suit and tie.

On the track it’s a true blueblood affair, the horses running are a culmination of generations of breeding, and a winner at Royal Ascot is a calling card to a future stallion career, for the boys at least. This year is no exception as the five-day meeting will start with Britain’s greatest horse for 40 years, Frankel, defending his unbeaten record and reputation as the best in the world in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

It ends with Black Caviar attempting to follow an illustrious line of Australian speedsters at the meeting - Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast - in winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Despite facing a likely challenge from last year’s winner, the British-trained Society Rock, and the leading French filly Moonlight Cloud, Black Caviar is a long odds-on favourite to do so. In fact, Britain’s most fancied challenger, Bated Breath, is expected

to skip the race and run in Tuesday’s slightly shorter sprint, the King’s Stand Stakes, to avoid clashing with the Aussie star.

In between there’s the Gold Cup - no need for the prefix Ascot, this is the original - the centrepiece of the meeting and run on the Thursday card, the original Ladies Day, when tradition dictates the finest outfits are worn with the brightest plumes in the most audacious hats.

It’s not difficult to be a part of it all. Tickets can be bought at ascot.co.uk while all the information you’ll need to get the most from your day and to back a winner or three can be found at www.racingpost.com.

So join the streams of revellers at London’s Waterloo station, they’ll be the well-heeled ones in the morning and the well-oiled ones by evening time. There are frequent trains to Ascot, where the station and racecourse are just a furlong apart.

And don’t forget to look and act the part. Arrive with a swagger in your step, a glint in your eye, a copy of the Racing

Post under your arm and you’ll fit in perfectly. It’s an unforgettable occasion, unchanging in its grandeur, its majesty, but most of all in the sheer fun it provides.

Fancy a bet on Black Caviar? For the fastest and easiest way to bet this Royal Ascot download the Racing Post mobile app at www.racingpost.com/mobile

RIDING DESTINY: Australian jockey Luke Nolen will ride champion mare Black Caviar at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, chasing her 22nd consecutive win. (AAP Image/James Elsby)

WHILE most of his Australian teammates were competing at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid over the weekend, Matthew Mitcham remained in Sydney to continue his preparations under coach Chava Sobrino.

The Beijing gold medal diver is continuing to recover from a troublesome abdominal muscle problem that has wreaked havoc with his preparation and forced him to miss last year’s world titles in Shanghai.

And while the 24-year-old is pain-free and building in confidence, he believes he’ll be better served by maximising his training rather than competing again before the Games.

“Chava and I decided the way I’m going to get the best out of London is to stay home and just get a solid block

London: Mitcham is just ‘smashing’n Matt Mitcham opts out of competition to focus on “smashing” himself in training in a bid to be ready for his Olympic title defence.

of training behind me, rather than interrupting the training block to go to another competition,” Mitcham said.

“I believe I already know how to compete, so it’s just a matter of getting the training behind me.”

Although a below-par performance at last month’s US Grand Prix sparked fears Mitcham might be losing a race against time to be fit for London, he said he was now able to fully test himself in training.

“I’m not being so cautious anymore,” he said.

“I’m kind of smashing myself at the moment because I can.

“... I finish every training session absolutely knackered ... to the point where sometimes I just crash - as soon as I get in the front door, I just lie on my floor in front of the door for half

an hour.“We’re being cautious not to

increase my load too much too quickly ... but it’s pretty much just going to be me busting my balls for the next month-and-a-half until the Games start.

“I’ve been putting my abs through some pretty full-on stuff, getting prepared to do my highest degree of difficulty dives and it’s holding together really, really well.” – AAP

SOME serious brownie points were earned this past weekend, as the AFL threw up its inaugural ‘Do Something Else Round’.

Churches were full, dogs were washed, lawns were mowed, that replica model 1942 mosquito aeroplane got constructed and Mums across the country got in a good chinwag and a cuppa. All of this occurred because some brainiac decided to fixture all the good games on Thursday (yep) and Friday night. Thus, leaving the dregs for the rest of the weekend, namely diehard sociopathic supporters and those with no lives whatsoever.

Firstly, it pretty much bucketed down everywhere. I know it’s a winter sport, but the beer is already watered down enough. And then it just adds insult to injury when your team loses, even more so if you’re lucky enough to support Port Adelaide. One saving grace for Power fans was at least the roof was shut, although there seemed to be dark clouds above most of the Port team as the Bulldogs towelled them up. They now get a week off to figure out if anyone can remember where the keys to the property shed is or if it’s another fortnight with no balls.

The Hawks just got over the line by 11 goals over Brisbane, the Giants

turned on a bit of a goal-kicking clinic in the wet, booting an accurate 12.2, and actually scored more majors than their visitors Richmond. The class of the Tigers finally rose though and they just snuck home by a couple. It didn’t seem to bother Sheedy in the GWS box, as he was too busy doing Al Pacino impersonations and making sure EVERYONE pulled his finger at least once.

The Kangaroos were also a bit lucky and fell over the line against the Suns, still chasing win one in 2012. Gary Ablett is still a complete freak though and at one point hid Boomer Harvey up his jumper whilst kicking a 70 metre torp to himself. Another player who likes to play with himself is Nic Naitanui as he almost definitely kicked the greatest point in VFL/AFL history. He won the ruck tap, handballed to himself, gave some finance advice to Chris Judd, stopped for a hot dog, tapped the ball into space and - mid moonwalk - launched the Sherrin through for an amazing behind. So, weve got one more week of bye weeks and love for the family before we launch back into the second half of the season and we can gorge ourselves on footy once again.

midfield and Rhys McNay getting on top in the ruck.

Jason Wood was important sweeping across halfback, too, as the Demons piled on five goals to nothing in the third term to lead by nine points at the last break.

From there, the Lions confidence was shot and with inferior fitness, they could not withstand the last-quarter Demons’ charge, going down by 34 points.

An upshot for the North London team was that Quentin Keeble was a shining light up forward, booting four goals for the Lions.

Despite the loss, the Lions showed enough to convince onlookers they will challenge the top three teams if they make the finals.

“I thought North were sensational,” Demons coach Jarryd Browne said.

“They were hard at the footy and had some tough bodies. I think towards the finals if they get a full side up they’ll be a hard side to beat.”

Browne paid tribute to the Demons fitness and local ground.

“Having Clapham Common as our home - we really use it well for training and we really ran over them in the end.

“Simon Callahan was great in the midfield and I couldn’t praise our

ROW (Rest of the World) boys James O’Connell and Connor Nevin enough. I’d pick them if they were Aussies.”

Browne said the Round 6 match against Putney presented the club’s “toughest test” this year.

“It will test our depth with Ascot Races and Isle of Wight on,” he said.

“We beat them by five goals in Round 1, but we’re expecting our hardest game to date against them at their home. A really big test.”

On Saturday swirly conditions played havoc with the air conveyance at Barn Elms and Shoreditch.

Ruckman Jacob Bailey was again best on ground in Putney’s 12.8 (80) to 10.2 (62) win over the Swans.

The Magpies’ midfield was served well by Clayton Fitzgerald and captain Greg Chapman, who was an unlikely goal kicker in the tricky conditions with four goals.

The Swans got out of the blocks early and kicked two goals into a five goal breeze.

Putney won the match in the last term when going into the breeze Greg Chapman sealed the winner with a fantastic roving effort from a ball-up in the forward line.

At Barn Elms, Wimbledon started well against the Wildcats, getting the first two goals, before West London

could get out of first gear.The Wildcats went on to win 19.21

(135) to 6.5 (36) in a final scoreline that flattered the Cats and probably did not reflect the Hawks competitiveness, particularly in the first three terms.

The Cats finished with eight unanswered goals to crush the visitors.

Adam Broadbent returned to the side to skipper the Cats and boot a lazy seven majors.

Alex Adams, who’s had the ball on a string in the conference division, was promoted to the premiership and did not look out of place.

Stuart Ward was again solid at full back while Jarrod Sporrell was reliable in the ruck.

Cats coach Nathan Costley, back from Australia and recovering from pneumonia, said their Round 6 opponents North London presented a major threat.

“I think they have as good a chance as anyone to win the flag,” he said.

“I think they’ve got a really good team and next week’s not great for us. I don’t know what the North boys are like but got a few going to Ascot Races and Isle of Wight so it will be interesting.”

All tight at the top for AFL LondonContinued from p12...

By Phillip Browne

OFF the back of the successful International Cup tournament for the Aussies, where they lifted the winner’s trophy in the Mixed A grade and Men’s divisions, many Australians will now be looking to don the blue and white jerseys and represent the London Residents next month.

To help prepare the Great Britain & Ireland World Cup squads for their 2012 World Cup campaign in Auckland, New Zealand in December, Try Tag Rugby and the World Cup organising committee have decided to stage a series (Men’s & Mixed) against the London Residents on Saturday 21 July at Finsbury Park.

The London Residents teams will be made up of the best players living in London regardless of nationality with plenty of Aussies to feature and will offer strong opposition for the World Cup squads.

The series will consist of three x 40 minute matches in each of the Men’s and Mixed divisions throughout the day.

In other news, the Try Tag Rugby All-Stars will be sending three teams (one Mixed A grade & two Mixed social) to

Aussies to feature for the London Residents

the world’s biggest Tag Rugby festival; The Pig N Porter festival which takes place in Limerick, Ireland on Saturday, 14 July. No matter what standard of player you are, everyone is welcome to join us. All details on the London Residents series and the tour to Ireland can be found at TryTagRugby.com

Meanwhile, Late Summer Tag Rugby registrations in London & Reading are now open. Late Summer competitions commence in late June/early July and are expected to break the current record season (Early Summer 2012) participation figures of 142 teams! Leagues will take place at; Acton, Balham, Canada Water, Finsbury Park, Highbury, Hoxton, Reading, Richmond, Rotherhithe, Southfields, Wandsworth Town, West Ham & White City.

If you would like to get involved in one of the fastest growing sports in London, new team and individual registrations are welcome. This is a great chance to develop a network of friends if you are new to London

To register for a Try Tag Rugby competition or event, go to www.trytagrugby.com or email [email protected] for more details.

LOND(OZ)N RESIDENTS: The International Cup champion Mixed A grade London Australia team will be making up a few London Resident tag spots next month.

P11

ROYAL ASCOT HISTORY AWAITS BLACK CAVIARn Ahead of Australian wonder horse Black Caviar’s eagerly anticipated run at Royal Ascot this week, we invited Racing Post Associate Editor JOHN COBB to preview the grand meet.

...continued on p11

By Lee CrossleyAFL London’s three flag fancies - Wandsworth, West London and Putney - all continued their winning ways in an action-packed Round 5 at the weekend.

The Wildcats were 99-point winners over Wimbledon, but things were tighter at Shoreditch and Clapham where Putney and Wandsworth met tough opposition from the Swans and Lions respectively – just managing to get the job done.

The Demons beat North London 11.11 (77) to 8.5 (43) on Sunday but if you had left at halftime – when the Lions led by 23 points and had control – you would have been surprised to see the final score.

The Lions, slow starters this year, dominated the first term, kicking four goals to nothing.

Skipper and key forward Courtney Shergold went down with a game-ending injury close to quarter time, but even with the spearhead off the field, the Lions held their own to maintain a 23-point buffer at the main break.

However there is an air of confidence about this year’s Wandsworth side that suggests they are never out of the contest – such was the case again on Sunday.

Dean Ipaviz, so important to the Lions’ structure across back half, was sent off midway through the third term for remonstrating with a Demons player, leaving the Lions one short until midway through the final term.

This was when the Demons flexed their collective muscle, with skipper Mark Brescacin kicking several crucial goals, Daniel Broderick showing his class in the

Dees, Cats and Pies cruise at top

IT’S an opportunity to be in the presence of true nobility, to see the Queen close up. That’s what’s on offer at Royal Ascot when the Queen of Australian racing, Black Caviar, puts her reputation and unbeaten record on the line this Saturday during the finest five days of Flat racing Britain can offer.

Royal Ascot is an essential part of what passes for summer in Britain, an annual segment of the social landscape since Queen Anne decided 300 years ago that a piece of open heathland handily within reach of Windsor Castle would be a good spot for racing horses.

It’s long been a playground for the upper classes and it’s a great place to observe them in their natural habitat, with the female of the species displaying brightly coloured plumage, frequently topped off with feathers, and the males, all grey and black in top hats and tails, attired in morning suits for an event that starts in the afternoon.

There’s no need to be put off by the formality, though, as the strictest dress requirements are only for the Royal Enclosure, where entrance is restricted to those put forward by someone who is already a member. And while you might ask what sort of a country stages a race meeting that insists a woman’s dress must have straps at least 2.5cm wide and men are not allowed to wear brown shoes, it is also fair to say that these anachronisms are part of the attraction.

Some standards have been allowed to slip, though, and divorcees have been allowed in the Royal Enclosure since 1955.

Entrance to the Grandstand and Paddock can be bought without needing a reference, provides a brilliant view of all the action and puts the Queen, Elizabeth II as well as Black Caviar, nearly within touching distance. It also gives access to what is certainly the plushest, grandest grandstand at any racecourse anywhere. You’ll still need to be carefully attired though, women

SMASH FOR SPLASH

DIVING FOR GOLD: Aussie Olympians Matthew Mitcham, Rachel Bugg (left) and Sharleen Stratton in practice for the London Games. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) ...continued on p11

AUSSIE RESIDENTSLondon’s Down Under crew

tagging up the spots

Matt Mitcham is “smashing” himself in a bid to be ready for his Olympic title defence | P11

Australian Times newspaper: 19 June 2012 edition

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Transcript of Australian Times newspaper: 19 June 2012 edition