Australian Times weekly newspaper | 7 August 2012

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7 - 13 August 2012 – Issue: 424

OLYMPIC FEVER

CHARGE YOUR GLASSES

Aussies and their Games experience

Oktoberfest is coming!

TRAVEL P10

VOICES P6

SILVER LINING

So close but so far for Aussie Olympians SPORT P16

AUSSIES URGED TO KEEP THE FAITH IN OUR AILING OLYMPIANS

n As Australia stares down the barrel of our worst Olympic performance in

decades, Aussie athletes and high-profile figures have spoken out to defend the results of London 2012 and remind everyone that the competition isn’t over yet.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has urged Aussies to get behind their Olympians after criticism about a lack of gold in London.

At the time of print, Australia was 24th on the medals table, with a single win in the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay which came at the beginning of the Games. At this rate, Australia’s 2012 Olympians are shaping as the worst performing team in two decades.

However speaking to reporters in Sydney on Monday, Mr Abbott said the competition wasn’t over yet.

“We’ve still got several days of competition left,” he said.

“I think the important thing is to get behind our athletes and to cheer them on because we want them to come home knowing they’ve had the full support of the Australian people.”

He said the athletes were giving the London Games their best shot.

“We all have days when we’re performing better than others and the important thing is that every single Australian athlete and competitor out there has done his or her level best,” he said.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has slammed critics complaining about Australia winning just one gold medal so far.

“The lack of understanding of the efforts that our athletes have gone through to simply make the Olympics, the lack of appreciation for those who have won medals is just appalling,” Mr O’Farrell told reporters in Sydney.

Meanwhile our Australian athletes have defended their clutch of silvers and dearth of gold.

While WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living overseas, there’s only so much the Australian government can do to fight any extradition to the US, AttorneyGeneral Nicola Roxon says.

If Mr Assange was living in Australia, he would be able to follow the usual judicial and parliamentary processes to fight extradition.

But as he is living abroad, the government’s hands are largely tied, Ms Roxon says.

“If Mr Assange isn’t in Australia, the fact that he’s an Australian citizen doesn’t give us rights to intervene in the same way in the legal process,” Ms Roxon told Sky News.

“Of course we would continue all the diplomatic representations ...

Mr Assange is entitled to all of that full protection in the way any other Australian citizen is.

“But he’s actually not entitled to more than any other Australian citizen is either. That’s the balance that has been a little lost here.”

Mr Assange is holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London and is seeking asylum in the South ...continued on p3

Long jumper Mitchell Watt, who won silver on Saturday night after going into the Games as a gold medal favourite, lashed out at the Australian media for being too critical.

“People need to start understanding that it’s not easy to win an Olympic gold medal and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a silver medal,” Watt said.

“The first question I got was `a

disappointing result?’ The team’s happy, I’m happy, the coach is happy, I’ve got thousands of messages back home that they’re happy and the only people that aren’t happy are you guys (the media).

“So you need to wake up.”

Swimmer Cate Campbell, part of Australia’s only gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay way back on the first day of competition, said the athletes

were giving their all.

“I think it’s maybe almost a little bit hurtful to say we’ve been underperforming because we go out there and pour our heart and soul into every single performance,” she said.

“It’s not that we haven’t been performing, it’s just that the world has ...continued on p3

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Australia can’t fight Assange’s extradition

6/08/12 5:08 PM

2 | News

7 - 13 August 2012

Five things I’ve already learnt at London 2012

n Some of them painful, some joyous and some I’m more than happy to admit. With the first week down of the 2012 Olympics, these are the five things we have learnt about this year’s Games. the hard word > NATHAN MOTTON

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Australian sporting dominance in the pool is over

Australia’s greatest ever Olympian said before the Games that the Australian and USA dominance in the pool was over. Well Ian Thorpe was halfway to be correct. At the time of writing we have 20 medals in total, 10 of those in the pool and sit 24th overall. Only one of those is gold - the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.Add to that the disappointment of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team who were a long way off, Stephanie Rice’s failure to defend either of her titles from Beijing four years ago, and James ‘Missile’ Magnussen’s disappointing return - it’s been one hell of a wake-up call. And we’ve been handed somewhat of a lesson in humility to go with it.

Meanwhile China and the USA continue to put acres and acres between them and the rest of the world.

Investment equals gold medals

The Labor Government has long lauded its own investment in sport, including elite sport. It invested $1.2b over four years into sport generally, with $120m of that aimed at high-performance sport.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said in preparation for this year’s Games some years ago, that figure was at least $100m short of what

Your Say

On: Damien Hooper reprimanded for Olympic Aboriginal flag stunt

Well done Mr Hooper for being grounded in your identity! Unlike the IOC who need to lower their thresholds and promote athletes from all perspectives!!!

Go Australia and be embrace ALL things Australian!!!!! To hell with the IOC and their unacceptable thresholds which incite discrimination!!!!

Poly Nesian Yes, he was right to wear the Aboriginal flag. It’s no more a political statement than wearing an Australian one. The AOC, like the international organisation, are a bunch of bloody drongos.

Mick Piggott If I were an aboriginal athlete I would’ve done the same thing.

Go Damien!!

Mikey If you have been chosen to represent your country in a world class sporting event such as the Olympics at least have the common decency to be a part of that team and wear the correct uniform.

Wearing a T shirt of the Aboriginal flag, although a fine flag ,does seem very tacky to say the least. He should have been disqualified .

Stuart Clark

?

What’s your view

is required. As our chef de mission Nick Green went on the predictable warpath declaring our teams target of a top-five finish in both overall medals and gold, fears grew that this startling slicing and dicing of investment into sport would see us lose out in a big, big way to biggerspending rivals. Host nation Great Britain has taken its spending to unbelievable lengths and produced their ‘biggest and best team ever’, while France, Japan and Germany continue to reap the rewards of generous Government investment. Wait for the major inquiry at the conclusion of these Games.

No-one can doubt Britain’s ability to host major events

The Hard Word has taken part in some major global events hosted in England over the past two years, including the Royal Wedding and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, among others.

The Brit’s propensity to, well, stress, makes them the perfect hosts of the world’s biggest sporting event. Their obsession with micromanagement means no stone was left unturned, no detail glossed over. While the press here obviously get swept up in the furore over security, transport and ticketing, London 2012 has to date proved a major success. The attention to planning (frankly much of it by London Mayor Boris Johnson) is second to none. The aim was to make it the ‘friendly games’ of Sydney 2000, but as well as that, these Games could prove just that little bit better.

The OAC and its side kicks are out dated and must give themselves a second look. The world is in turmoil with cultural genocide happening right in front of our eyes. To simply acknowledge one’s culture and pride at the Olympics is far from the crimes related to racial inequalities. The OAC is nothing but a corporate body and should be overhauled. In with the new, out with the old…

W Adam I applaud Mr Hooper for his courage and for showing the world and his people how proud he is of his heritage.

You have done your country and your culture proud in a time where most fail to find a role model – your country has role model in you. Thanks for making us all feel proud about our own heritage and for your courage. Kia Kaha Dar-Kei Maybe boxer Damien Hooper could have had both flags on his shirt i.e. the official Australian one and the Aboriginal one. That way, he could keep both camps happy and still have made a statement about his identity and that of his people. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Deborah Congrats Damien. You stood strong and proud for Australia. Wear our Aboriginal flag with pride for all Australians.

Catherine He had the right and it is very suspicious the fact they asked him to apologise, not to say racist. It is unacceptable for anyone, Olympic Committee or not, to

‘Sir’ Danny Boyle is a genius

Anyone who comes up with films like Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire is already on their way to being cool in this scribes eyes. The critically acclaimed director and producer’s ‘Isles of Wonder’ - the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony - was something else though. Never mind the political jibes, the 55-year-old created something that will live long in the memory of all those who witnessed it. Australians living in the UK will have understood plenty of the ‘in jokes’, and will have appreciated as much as the Brits the self-deprecating nature of the whole thing. Australians, like the Brits, could never be accused of taking ourselves too seriously, and this oozed British culture in spades. It was witty, moving and incredibly charming and this scribe loved every single minute of it.

The Olympics are still one big perv

Much of the focus, well pretty much all of it, has been on the ‘exploitation’ of women’s bodies in the beach volleyball. How dare photographers and broadcasters alike show off what little the women are wearing! Beach volleyball is, like it or not, a sport that is here to stay.

Women and men alike love both forms of the game. Beach, bums, and booze is all good in this scribe’s eyes. But there’s also the swimmers and divers, with their chiseled frames, and the track and field athletes with their ripped abdominals and everything else. What fun.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

say to someone not to show their identity and hide behind some made up cloth that is telling only part of the truth of this person. Shame on the IOC,shame on all who help the corporate world to take over the games and impose sick rules and opress freedom. This is a media stunt, it is a brainwashing campaign against the people of earth, of all nations. An attack by the few, those who make big profits and dont care about human lives. Even though I am against the whole Games idea as it stands today (it’s not athletic to sit and watch others run or exercise, so lets drop this pretence now), so I say he is who he is and he has every right to show it at all times if he so chooses.

George @Stuart Clark: Can Mr Hooper not at least be proud to wear with what he most identifies with first?

It wasn’t as if he was protesting!!

He is part of a fine, hardworking OZ time and he did us ALL proud regardless of his attire :) PolyN AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

On: London connection for Colin Hay’s Down Under re-release

Love this ad. Really captures the Aussie spirit. Well done Colin!

Lee Rankin

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

News | 3

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Don’t give up on our Olympians yet, say officials Continued from p1... stepped up.”

Kevan Gosper, Australia’s most senior member of the International Olympic Committee, says the government must increase funding if it wants to win more gold medals.

The extra funding should be spent on top-level coaches and giving athletes experience in international competitions.

“The money is the difference between silver and gold,” Gosper told ABC Radio.

The Crawford review of sports funding had set Australia back substantially in the race for gold.

“We’ve been down on the sort of financial support that we were accustomed to when compared with the financial support that’s coming through from other countries, particularly here in Europe,” Gosper said.

“The fact is you do need more money in international sports and preparing if you’re going to compete with the world.”

Australia’s Olympic boss John Coates believes there needs to be a greater emphasis on sport in schools in the hope of finding the next Cathy Freeman or Ian Thorpe.

The Australian Olympic Committee president says before the next Olympics in 2016 Australia needs to “talent-build” by making sport a focus in schools.

He has called on the federal government to consider changing its policy and funding to give priority to school sports.

“Perhaps the area that needs a lot of attention - and if not, funding and government intention in terms of policy - is getting sport back into the school curricula,” Coates told the ABC on Monday.

The British were making “a big thing” of that being one of the legacies they’re looking towards, he said.

“They’ve been achieving that, a greater emphasis on sport in the schools.”

Some children would benefit from the health and fitness, but the next Freeman or Thorpe may also be discovered, Coates said.

Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy is happy with the level of sports participation in schools.

“What we’re seeing over at the Olympics at the moment is that we’re coming so close so many times ... and it’s just not going our way,” she told ABC radio.

“But we’re still way up there with the best of the best in the world in sport.”

Senator Lundy said it was important to continue to innovate to keep sports programs strong.

“Australia’s great strength is we’ve always punched above our weight in sport and we need to be smarter about how we use our resources to stay right up there,” she said. - AAP AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

‘Hands are tied on Assange’: Roxon

Continued from p1...

American nation to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is accused of sexual assault.

He fears being extradited to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks’ release of masses of US military and diplomatic documents into the public domain.

Ms Roxon, who has faced personal criticism for the government’s perceived inaction, says the Australian public needs to moderate its expectations of what the government can do for Mr Assange.

“I think people are just a little bit

misguided about what our role is here and what we can do. Passions run very high on Mr Assange’s case,” she said.

“I don’t see him as a hero or a terrorist. I see him as someone who did something he believes in.

“But the bottom line here is if you travel overseas, you are subject to the laws of other countries.

“And if you get in trouble with the laws of other countries, we can help you on a consular basis, but we can’t actually interfere in another (country’s) legal process.” - AAP AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

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4 | Voices

7 - 13 August 2012

Pulling porkies ain’t just for the Yanks Celebrating London’s chris’s

kitchen > CHRIS ARK

Last week we hit the lower states of the US for a southern fried chicken recipe to cure the weekend blues. And this week we are again going to hang out in this fine part of the world for another tasty treat.

‘Pulled pork roll’ - who from Oz had ever heard of such a thing before coming over here? Well, this slow cooked sticky BBQ flavored pork shoulder is making head way into London and creating line ups in this city’s top eateries. Places like Pit Co in Soho and their food street vans are bringing a little Brooklyn/southern America to London.

Hanging out in Bedford Avenue,

Brooklyn last year, I was salivating at the variety of food available from the food vans. On the NYC streets whether it be your favourite burger, pizza slice, pulled pork burger or ice cream and cookies, this place has it covered.

BBQ pit restaurants have been serving up tasty slow cooked joints of meat smothered in homemade BBQ sauces and secret spice mixes for centuries. According to popular belief - North Carolina is the home of the pulled pork sandwich, and now the world is taking note of how tasty BBQ pork can be.

Pulled pork gets its name from the way the succulent strips of juicy pork pieces can be ‘pulled’ away from the bone into individual pieces. The best way to have a go at this super tasty crowd pleaser yourself, is to

fire up your Webber BBQ if you are lucky enough to have one (or just a a charcoal barbie with a lid) and start slow cooking a shoulder as soon as the sun’s out. You will need to keep the coal going for a good three or four hours to ensure the pork slowly cooks into tender strips of juicy flesh.

Selecting a small shoulder from your butcher will be more than enough to feed a tribe of mates and have some left for lunch days for to come. Ask your butcher to order you a small shoulder and score the meat so the flavour can get right into the joint. We want the smokey flavours of the coals mixed in with the sticky sauces.

So fire up your BBQ and get the coals going for a tasty treat of pulled pork straight from the south. Lets get crackling, I mean cracking!

amazing Olympic Park n

With Olympic fever officially gripping absolutely everyone inside the English capital (and possibly the world) our resident adventurer set off to explore the vibrant hub of London 2012 - Olympic Park - and mark #7 off her London Top 100 list.

Chris’s delicious pulled pork sandwich bron in

the don BRONWYN SPENCER

Image by Marshall Astor Image by Robert S Donovan

What you need:

• 2kg pork shoulder • 1 tbsp chili flakes • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard • Salt and black pepper • 1 cup of white wine vinegar • 1 cup of cider • 1 cup of smoked hickory sauce

What to do:

• Preheat your oven 170 degrees or the BBQ on low coals.

• For the pulled pork, oil a baking tray and place the pork shoulder on top.

• Mix together the chili, mustard and salt and freshly ground black pepper, then rub the mixture into the pork shoulder.

• Pour the vinegar and cider over, and then scatter over the onion and garlic.

• Cover with parchment paper, then wrap in foil and place into the oven (or barbie pit) to roast for three hours.

• Remove the parchment and foil, and brush over the hickory sauce then roast for another hour.

• ‘Pull’ the pork by sticking a fork in

the shoulder and shredding the meat into small pieces with another fork.

• Served best with a fresh coleslaw, freshly baked door stopper bread slices or burger buns.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

I had been lucky enough to have a family holiday when the 2000 Olympics were held in Sydney and I remember enjoyed the fleeting visit we had to the park to see the Hockey Quarter Finals. But in the lead up to London’s 2012 Games I was one of those people complaining about the disruption to my commute and the dreaded amount of tourists descending on the city (yes, slightly hypocritical I know). But after seeing the amazing Opening Ceremony and being a part of the atmosphere in the pub I was high on Olympic fever. I followed the ceremony with two days of Olympic viewing so much so, that I had succeeded in creating a perfect butt groove in the couch.

While I did miss out on tickets to any of the Games I was lucky enough to score a £10 ticket into the Olympic Park, and even if this wasn’t #7 on my London Top 100 list, I would have checked it out anyway. The ticket gave us entry into the Park without getting inside the venues but we still had a great chance to be apart of something amazing.

The Tube ride out there was a dream and we wandered through the shopping centre, helped along by the friendliest volunteers and made our way through the gates with ease. It was a completely different experience than what I had expected! Once we were inside we headed to the outside of the Olympic Stadium, stood under the Orbit and made our way into the Orbit Circus. The circus is a food and social hub of the Games with many food vendors surrounding some picnic tables and umbrellas. Even though there was a wide variety of food available we still decided to go with the major sponsor and talk of the town - Maccas - it is the biggest one in the world after all.

The Olympic Park isn’t just sporting arenas - although these do look

impressive from the outside. There are also cultured gardens where you can wander along a canal; art installations; a bandstand; shops and restaurants; and even a cinema experience. There is so much to do that it didn’t really matter that we didn’t have tickets as we wandered around. As you guys know - people watching is one of my favourite hobbies - and this was a perfect place to do it. From whole families dressed in matching Union Jack onesies to the bright orange wigs of Dutch supporters and of course some green and gold Aussie tracksuits - the whole place was filled with people just coming out to support their countries and their home athletes. The volunteers were fabulous, always friendly and asking questions about your day, which was such a normal change from the stony silence of Londoners, I think I am still in shock.

I did manage to see some sport while I was there as they have two massive screens set up in the park where you can sit and watch the coverage. I was there on the day that the Team GB Men’s Gymnastics won their controversial Bronze Medal and I could hear the cheers of the crowd from the Hockey Stadium as GB beat Argentina.

The only downside was not being able to see the flame. I’ve got the typical photo of me pretending to hold it from the Sydney games and I was looking forward to recreating the magic. There are still plenty of photogenic points - one of my favourites are the multi coloured rings right up on the hill - with a games steward ready and raring to take a photo if needed.

The whole experience was fantastic and is just another great event that is a highlight of my time in London.

Olympics happen in a city you live in probably once in a lifetime so I am glad that I got out of my pre-Olympicfunk and embraced them! Make sure you do the same!

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

6 | Voices

7 - 13 August 2012

Louisa & Tara do the Olympic festivities at The Fringe 2012 Opening Ceremony

By Melissa Shortal

By Louisa Moran

My English work colleagues hate me right now. They missed out on even a single ticket, yet this Aussie backpacker scored a stash of tickets within just months of arriving in the country. I came away with a great selection of events whilst my good friend Tara (and partner in Olympic revelry) came away with the golden tickets – the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. We thought the ticket lottery worked just fine!

The excitement of entering the Olympic Park for the Opening Ceremony was heightened by the masses of attractive English army boys offering free pat downs at security as long as you leave something metallic in your pockets. It was too late to realise it would be a same sex pat down, but you can have some good banter with the boys whilst it’s happening.

The comradery between all nations (except the Americans - nobody likes them) was amazing. The majority of Brit’s seem to lack a certain national pride that us Aussie’s have of dressing up in your national colours from head to toe, painting yourself in Green and Gold all whilst draping the Aussie flag around you. We did have a bit of competition from the Brazilians, but I think the Aussie supporters were the most colourful and patriotic. There were many people who wanted to get photos of us and plenty were doing a collection of trying to get a photo with someone from every country.

It’s a good thing that Australia begins with an ‘A’ as it means you don’t have long to wait before they come out. It also means a drink stop for a £10 No1 Fruit Cup (also known away from the brutal Olympic sponsorship laws as - ‘Pimms’) is well timed between the Aussie’s finishing their parade and the other 192 countries that follow in-between them and team GB. The expat Aussies were out in force from the sound of the roar that erupted when Lauren Jackson walked out with our flag. And although I have no allegiance for Britain, you had

to stand when they came out. My reason was mostly to see what Stella McCartney had come up with for their team uniform. The atmosphere was absolutely electrified when they finally made an appearance, followed by exclamations of ‘Are they wearing white...what the?’ This was in comparison to the audible silence that followed the Americans - no one likes a show off.

By Tara Norley Talk about a night to remember!

Olympic Park had an absolutely electric atmosphere and I felt so proud to be Australian. The English Countryside was a beautiful way to open the Ceremony, however the Industrial Revolution was something to behold, with the Olympic rings being forged and coming together above the stadium, before exploding in a shower of amber sparks.

The crowd loved every second of the trip through Britain’s history, including all the music, literature and technology GB has bought to the world. Welcoming the athletes to the arena, one country at a time, we cheered our hearts out as Team Australia entered. It was amazing to feel such a swelling of pride for our team and our country.

The athletes made their way to the centre of the stadium for the ultimate finale – the lighting of the Cauldron. Even in the nose bleed sections you could feel the heat of the flame (whether that was literal or wishful thinking I’ll never know) as it was lit by seven young Brits in line with London 2012’s ‘Inspire a Generation’ theme. The crowd watched in awe as the flame closed up in on itself – a spectacular climax to a phenomenal show. For many people, myself included, I believe an Olympics Opening Ceremony really is a once in a lifetime experience, and I am truly grateful that I was there to witness such a breathtaking ceremony.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

The Olympics are finally here - yay!

After so many years, months, weeks of build up the Games have started and I’m pretty excited about it!

The topic of discussion last week at work, home and with friends was definitely the Opening Ceremony.

Where were people going to watch it? Who would light the cauldron?

And would Daniel Craig REALLY parachute into the stadium?! I had decided some time ago that I wanted to watch the Opening Ceremony at home - because I take this Olympic stuff pretty seriously and I needed to be able to concentrate! But at the last minute we got offered tickets to go to the Opening Cermony party at The Fringe 2012, a pop up members club right next to the Olympic Stadium!

After (12) years of listening to my parents banging on about how great the atmosphere was in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics and how people partied

in the street and everyone got so into the Games, it was a once in a lifetime experience... blah blah blah. I decided that watching the ceremony with other Londoners right next to the stadium was exactly the type of thing that they were talking about and I needed to get over my idea of watching it on the sofa, and as the Aussie in me would say, just ‘get amongst it’.

The Fringe really didn’t disappoint.

It is a converted 4 storey warehouse right on the canal with fantastic views of the stadium. It’s a huge venue, with a massive outdoor area which has bars, foodstalls and a stage with live music. All the indoor areas have screens showing coverage of the Games and the outdoor area has a huge screen too - which is where we watched the ceremony.

We were very lucky that although there was a little bit of rain before the ceremony started, it eased off for the rest of the evening. Being right next to the stadium we also had a fantastic view of the red arrows fly past, and with such a fantastic atmosphere everyone was SO excited when the ceremony started!

I thought the entire ceremony was great, but one of the highlights was definitely the section with James

Bond and the Queen, and then being able to actually see the parachuters drop out of the plane was awesome!

I felt very proud to be a Londoner watching the ceremony, but of course I felt extra proud when the Australian Olympic Team came into the arena.

From where we were sitting outside we could see all the fireworks from the stadium, which was super exciting and it was such a great night, although I paid for it the next day! What a great venue, great night, and great experience! Enjoy!

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

Another Aussie Gold

By Sepi Roshan

“Congratulations!” the letter read. “Your application for Games Maker has been approved. You will be part of the Spectator Entry Team.” You beauty! I think they loved me in my interview because of my Aussie wit and humour.

The journey from application to Games Maker for London 2012 has been a bumpy ride. At one stage, I thought that my chances of Games making were gone. Family health issues compelled my husband and I back to Melbourne. What was I going to do from Melbourne? So far away from London and with an expiring visa?

The allure of London was too much.

As the health issues resolved, we decided that our hearts lay in London and decided to make the move back.

London 2012 was on again. We were going home.

Surprisingly, the Games Maker portal was very efficient in accepting my new visa details and UK address.

And when the notification of interview came, I was thrilled. Off I went to Canary Wharf. I was consulting that day, so suited and booted, I walked into the reception area. I know people say that London is not known for its customer service, but chuck a couple of people who want to be there, behind a desk and they will knock your socks off. We entered a smiling and niceness competition. Who could out-smile the other? Who could wish who the better day? I knew I was experiencing the true London 2012 spirit. It wasn’t even

sunny, so it must have been genuine.

True to London style, there were a variety of people there. Government workers, sports fans, mums, creatives, freelancers, other expats: the melting pot that makes London so different and interesting.

We were eventually escorted up to the what seemed the clouds. A strategic move as we were shown the Olympic Stadium site. They had us at: “Look over there - you can see the stadium being built.” I was hooked. And the abundance of Cadbury only made it better. I was interviewed by a lovely German woman who was also a volunteer. Interviews are fun (yes, you read right) and we had a ball. She was living in London and was having a blast. She was almost as excited as me about London 2012.

Three training sessions, one uniform collection later and it was time. As I sat watching the Olympic barge carrying the torch under the Hammersmith Bridge on the day of the Opening Ceremony, the goosebumps started. This is really happening. I am going to play a vital part in London 2012. An Aussie, is going to help international spectators experience London’s Olympic Games.

As part of the Spectator Entry Team, I am part of a team of 70,000 Games Makers. I get to welcome and implement the security functions ahead of the search and screening process. Preparing spectators before they go through the screening area and providing them with information, advice and guidance on

security processes. I get to use my Aussie wit and humour and my Londoner’s pride at how resilient and varied my home is. How we accept people of all backgrounds and communities, who proudly want to show the world what an inspiring place London is: for its beauty and opportunities.

So if you are around Hyde Park during London 2012, come over and say hi.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

Voices | 7

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Nothing but positives for my amazing Games experience

By Donna Roberts As an Aussie living in London I have experienced many highlights whilst residing in one of the greatest cities in the world – the Royal Wedding, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Boris Johnson’s hair – and now, the heart of the world is positively pulsating with excitement as it plays host to the biggest festival of sport, the Olympics.

With the panic button well and truly pressed by the media with regards to transport to and from stadiums I set out for my first visit to Olympic Park with great trepidation (and hours early for my event!). After collecting my friend Tara from work, we headed off to the men’s Handball competition at the Copper Box - a journey that would no doubt be ‘a seemingly endless time of queuing’.

To our very pleasant surprise, we arrived at Stratford quickly (even scoring seats on the tube!) and followed the rest of the flag-adorned and smiling crowd towards Olympic Park. Dotted along the course of our journey were many purple and red bedecked Games volunteers offering, as expected, assistance to those who required it but also, quite unexpectedly, amusing conversations conducted with Olympics attendees via megaphone atop umpire chairs.

Some volunteers just wanted a high

five; to ask us which event we were attending; or to wish us a great evening! It was so great to be in such a brilliant atmosphere right from getting off the train.

Queue barriers in place, we wandered towards the entrance (perhaps a 10 minute stroll from where we disembarked our train) with expectations of long queues, bag searches and pat downs. Well…the bag searches and pat downs occurred (by very friendly soldiers) but the queues were completely non-existent!

Upon gaining entry to Olympic Park itself, we walked around the area intending to use the time we now had – two hours – to soak in the atmosphere and mingle with the other UK residents, expats and tourists. Highlights included seeing an entire group of tourists in very shiny silver jackets and witnessing a troupe of performers play a game of table tennis with no ball.

Once we had collected our two other friends – Louisa and Stacey – we made our way to the Copper Box for the handball. It is at this point I feel I should share with you that Tara and I had been gaining a fair bit of attention from the crowd! Because, being proud Aussies, we were dressed head to toe in green and gold outfits despite our event – the men’s handball – not even having an Aussie team representing.

I can only imagine how strange we

looked; faces painted, flag capes in place, only to watch Denmark play Spain and Argentina take on France in a sport that NONE of us had ever seen before.

In an interesting conversation with my Spanish and South African housemates a couple of nights before our big Olympic event, I discovered that PE lessons in different countries involve completely different sports.

In Spain, there is a great emphasis on handball and salsa dancing. In South Africa it’s all about rugby and soccer.

I decided to support Spain solely on the basis that my Spanish housemate, Sergio, said there was a healthy competition in the sport in his home country. And they did not disappoint!

The first game, Denmark vs Spain, was a nail-biter. I can only describe the sport as something like Water Polo, but without the water. Being a complete novice, it didn’t take long for me to work out the basics in order to enjoy the thrilling display of athleticism and endurance that I was viewing on the court. The game resulted in Denmark winning the match by one point, much to the delight of the masses of Danish fans in the crowd who completely lost their minds when the final buzzer rang.

The second game between France and Argentina was not quite so enthralling

to watch, with the score line blowing out in France’s favour quite early on.

But with my new mate John sitting next me in the stands, I soon learnt that France were the world champions of the sport so it was still a treat to watch their dominance on the court.

Thousands of people were streaming out of all of the active venues when we left the Copper Box and, once again, I was resigned to the trip home

being a long and cramped one. To my surprise, I walked straight onto a Central line Tube at Stratford and was home in about one hour. Bravo to the organisers who have made things run so smoothly! I left the park with a few photos but a head full of memories that I will no doubt reminisce about during every Olympiad to come.

Bring on my next Olympic trip watching Aussies at the Boxing in the ExCel Centre!

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

A shout out to Olympic Brits – come to Australia!

Danny Boyle’s Aussie girl for the London Opening Ceremony

By Louise Jefferson I applied to be an Olympics Opening Ceremony volunteer in November 2011 and after several auditions, I was selected - by Danny Boyle - to be in the ‘Inner Family’. 12 of us were selected, for two days filming in April with Danny directing, to be the family in the Opening Ceremony’s ‘Our House’ scene. Danny was incredible. What a great guy, so down to earth and so easy to work with.

What was more incredible was that we were selected out of 10,000 Opening Ceremony volunteers to be the select and special dozen encapsulated in Danny’s incredible ‘Our House’ scene.

Remember the house in the middle of the stadium – with the family inside?

Seen watching television, sitting at the dinner table, ect. That was us! And I was one of those lucky people! We were the ‘family’ seen by millions around the world (possibly a billion) head banging with our 3D glasses, eating at the dinner table, acting out family scenes.

Because we – the ‘Inner Family’ were filmed in advance (and therefore wouldn’t be acting out our scenes live during the Ceremony), Danny wanted to be sure we would actually be in

the Opening Ceremony. So he arranged for us to be one of the picnic groups in the ‘Green & Pleasant Land’ scene. That’s how caring and thoughtful Danny Boyle is.

What a legend.

We attended 20 rehearsals - eight hours at a time - for this honour, outside in all kinds of weather, but it showed us the spirit of the Games, each group clapping and cheering the others as we came on and off the arena at Stratford.

As for Opening Ceremony night...

Well that was something else altogether. It was the most amazing experience. I received lots of emails from Australia saying “WE SAW YOU!” and it was just incredible.

Even my daughter Paris, who is an accomplished actress and currently filming in a Ridley Scott movie with Brad Pitt & Michael Fassbender, was boasting “that’s my mum” to all around her!

The whole journey has been an amazing experience. I’ve made so many friends, and experienced London at its multicultural best, and made history. How lucky am I?

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

By Andy McCourt Hello fair people of Great Britain!

Greetings from the azure skies and jonquil-yellow beaches of Australia, jolly John and Jane Bulls! Yes, you know who you are; cheeky chappies and lasses who have been naughtily skipping your studies for intense sports training!

Oh what a surprise you’ve given all of us here Down Under! We think you’ve all done smashingly well collecting all those Olympic gongs. Crikey! Who ever would have thought….well I never…love a duck (or some other genus of poultry).

Well, British friends, now’s the time to think about your futures. Fed up of running 42 kilometres in the pouring rain? Tired of getting up at 2am to hack through the ice at Henley so you can get a training row in before it freezes over again? Are your Event Horses refusing to come out of the stables just because there is an Arctic blizzard outside? Is

Piers Morgan getting on your nerves?

Sorry, that’s stating the bleedin’ obvious eh, chortle, chortle? Well, Jeremy Clarkson and all the other Jeremies then?

Are you driven to distraction by re-runs of Midsommer Murders?

Towie? Corrie? Care to resume eating proper seafood after that dodgy whelk hospitalised you for six months? Got ricketts? Enough said. What about Tony Blair? He COULD be back you know…how would you fancy that? And cyclists! Want to rub shoulders with a Tour-de-France winner? (OK, forget that bit...)

Here’s the answer brave Britons!

Hectors, Lysanders, Boadicias and Brittanias…migrate to Australia! Ten quid’ll do it, just like the 1960s. This renewed Aussie initiative will have you boosting your vitamin D levels the natural way in no time at all!

Imagine! Swimming through clear blue Pacific waters instead of just

going through the motions at Brighton!

Running barefoot through squeaky sands without getting Hep B. Fresh fruit and vegetables that don’t register a single click on a Geiger Counter.

Steaks that come from entirely sane cattle; not those that think they are badgers. All this…and we have a Queen too! Several, if you decide to settle in Darlinghurst.

Yes, now is the time to secure your future and reap the rewards of your Herculean efforts, good British athletes!

Grab a tenner and take a stroll down the Strand today and apply at Australia House. A fantastic new life in Australia awaits you sporting gurus – complete with fast-tracked Australian citizenship!

You’ll be the envy of Rio in four years time, and girt by sea before you know it.

But be quick - before those now very sporting Olympic Kiwis take most of the places!

PS: As a special incentive, Rolf Harris has agreed to remain a UK resident!

8 | Voices

7 - 13 August 2012

My colleague’s niece’s beautician has a second cousin who lives in London lost in london > lexxy luther

It’s the rite of passage all Australians moving to London must go through. The cross-continental introduction by a mutual friend, followed by the awkward first meet up arranged through superpolite texts until you discover a shared love of tequila shots and you’re to be found at 3am the next morning bonding over the finale of Offspring you had to stream on the internet (awwww, Nina + Patrick = 4ever).

Normally, it’s just the friend of a friend, and a vital part of establishing your network when you first move to a new city.

Usually, because you have a friend in common, you inevitably will be able to fill the conversation space of one coffee, if only because you can gossip about your mutual friend. If you’re lucky and that goes well, you might be able to turn that coffee into a beautiful friendship, where you skip gaily through Regents Park together, tinkly laughing and tossing your

hair in the afternoon sun.

However, sometimes the introduction is a trans-Atlantic version of the show ‘Date My Son’. A well-meaning attempt by extended relatives concerned by your long shelf-life and shriveling ovaries which they take it upon themselves to address by running their own informal international dating service. “Oh, you’re moving to London?” a good family friend might mention casually. “Well, you must look up my bosses nephew.

He’s about your age.” Or your Aunt might mention her drycleaners son has just moved to the UK. Or your Mum helpfully identifies that the chemist’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend lives just one stop from you on the Underground. And, wouldn’t you know it, now single!

Or, as has recently happened to my friend – her Italian Grandma’s bingo partners great nephew. True story. Never mind that she’s already well established in London. Never mind she’s never met her grandma’s bingo partner, or has any interest in going out with her great-nephew.

No, it should be enough that Nonna has established he’s a banker. With his own apartment in Fulham.

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“And did I tell you he cooks for himself?” Though should we really be so impressed by a grown man who lives alone occasionally demonstrating an ability to bake his own cannelloni instead of having his Nonna internationally ship over some frozen lasagnas (like his women?).

But, you can’t say no to your Grandma, can you? Which is why my friend found herself agreeing to a blind date with someone she had already pre-stalked on Facebook and already decided was not for her (don’t judge – you’ve all done it).

And which is why I found myself accidently also on the date as buffer.

Imagine his surprise when, expecting to turn up for an intimate tete-a-tete with a sophisticated,

charming, pretty young lady of fellow Italian origin, he instead turned up for an intimate tete-atete with the former….…. And me.

I may as well have popped out from behind my friend, Brady Bunch style, and yelled: “Romantic dinner for two? Not bloody likely!

And keep your hands where I can see them…’

Needless to say, the date did not go well.

To be fair to him, I was a bad date. I took charge of the menu. I over-ordered the sharing dishes (without establishing first that yes, in fact, he didn’t mind sharing). I ate everything. I spilt food on myself (yes that happened).

I didn’t engage in conversation or ask any questions about him, and I played with my phone. Just short of ordering a bottle of Krug on his tab, sculling it all and then making out with a waiter, I don’t think I

could have demonstrated worse table manners.

To be fair to me, it wasn’t my date. Also, to his credit, he behaved impeccably. He asked my friend pertinent questions about herself, he nodded politely.

He enquired about her family and complimented her outfit. However, it’s hard to create the appropriate atmosphere of romance and intimate banter when there’s a third person sitting opposite you, silently assessing your first date skills whilst chewing crispy duck with their mouth open and trying to get mushu pork sauce out of their shirt with their diet coke.

And, after all that, he paid for us both. To him, thanks for the free dinner, and my sincerest apologies.

Better luck on the next episode of Date My Son. And to my mother’s chemist’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend, I promise to behave better should she ever prove successful at forcing contact…

Have you or your friends had a similar experience? Tell us about it at AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

I have a confession to make… tube talk > Sandra Tahmasby

For the last few weeks, I have been unfaithful…There, I said it.

I have no explanation and even ‘it’s not you it’s me’ doesn’t cut it.

Maybe it’s because everyone else was doing it, maybe because it was something I thought I could get away with.

Whatever my reasons, the fact remains that I did it.

I have been using other ways of getting around. Not only in London but I even cheated abroad.

It started with the use of the Overground in London. I don’t really know what attracted me at the time, I guess it was just easy…

Then it stemmed out to Mansfield (well it’s not my fault the Tube can’t take me there). But I couldn’t stop there. Next was Croatia, then Belgium and then Denmark…

The Metro, Light rail, taxis, Urban

rail. I have done it all. I have even heard of places where the train doesn’t even touch the tracks, it simply hovers magnetically on top. WOW… I can’t help but imagine the possibilities yet to come.

I can’t say I was bored in my relationship with the Tube because as I sit in the small town of Nyborg in Copenhagen pouring my heart out, I long to see my London love.

No one else looks out for me and tells me to ‘Mind The Gap’. No one else warned me when they were approaching and no one else gave me that warm feeling or made me break into a sweat.

Maybe the rumours of the high speed railway was what tipped me over the edge or perhaps it was the many upgrades. The curiosity, well, it just got the better of me.

I guess the thought of sharing him with an extra 1 million commuters every day during the Olympics just didn’t sit right with me. But I have come to realise that no other transport system loves me the way the Tube does.

After weeks of beggars in carriages, stalker taxi drivers and foreign audioI now know where my heart lies. It’s good to get away but as Kylie told us years age, ‘it’s better the devil you know’.

There may be times when things get tough and sometimes we think we can get better than what we have but it’s not until we get a taste for it do we realise how good we actually had it.

Tubey, if you’re reading this, please forgive me and I promise I won’t do it again... (well, at least until next summer that is…).

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

Wattle it take for some Aussie gold? right said ed > TIM MARTIN

On the eve of the 2012 Olympic Games, I was walking through north London in a pretty and unobtrusive back alley, when out the corner of my eye I spotted a very familiar sight. I turned quickly, startling my girlfriend, and took off at full pelt like Usain Bolt down a 100m track. When my strides stopped, I was standing below a tree I hadn’t seen in years. It was an Australian wattle tree.

I reached up and broke off a small branch and held it fondly in my hands. It was a branch full of beautiful wattle gold flowers, and leafy sprigs of green. I sniffed it softly and dreamed of what

significance this startling find might have. Was it an omen that our Australian Olympians, only hours away from walking out into the London Olympic Stadium, would bathe in the glory of our most successful Games yet? Was it a sign that the Aussie green and gold would reign supreme and show the Poms that we are the rightful suitors to that fourth spot on the Olympic medal table? Was it fate that I should come by this very tree on the eve of the biggest sporting event in years? I walked on, spring in my step, smile on my face – wanting more than ever for London 2012 to start and for our Aussie gold-wash to begin.

Fast forward a week and a half and that branch of wattle has gone limp. While it still holds pride of place on my mantelpiece, I often

find myself staring angrily at it, longing it to help inspire our athletes on to greatness. It seems, just like my sprig of wattle, our chances of appearing even in the top 10 of the medal tally have gone limp too. But no matter where we feature – be it behind New Zealand and Kazakhstan – or by some miraculous quirk of fate – ahead of Team GB and South Africa – that wattle green and gold, from which our national colours are inspired, will always be a deep source pride. Because whether or not our Olympians are achieving on the world stage, they – like us – are Australian. And that’s all I need to be proud.

Tim Martin is Editor of Australian Times AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

Entertainment | 9

AustralianTimes.co.uk

What we’re following #GoAussies

@AlisonTracie Dare I say time for Aussie blokes to step up? It’s Day 7 & Aus=13 medals, 10 from female athletes. Quad scull, Magnussen & Sprenger exceptions #GoAussies @mariekeguehrer Well done our rowing girls and guys - rowing is killing it with the medals!!! #GoAussies @caty_price Congrats Aussie crew in the men’s quad scull - bronze medalists!#GoAussies #London2012 @FollowTheGames Remember to tag #GoAussies on all of your Olympic tweets so we can get it trending! RT and help spread the word! @BelieberOfAUS AUSSIES HAVE WON GOLD IN SWIMMING. THAT’S WATS UP.#GoAussies Check out what we’re following today on AustralianTimes.co.uk and follow us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

What’s On Xavier Rudd 8 August @ Koko Temper Trap 10 Aug @ BT London Live, Hyde Park Heath Franklin’s Chopper: 20 - 24 August Southbank Centre Mick Thomas & Squeezbox Wally 23 Aug @ The Borderline Darren Hayes 24 September @ IndigO2, Temper Trap 4 Oct @ Hammersmith Apollo Tame Impala 30 October @ O2 Academy, Brixton Gotye 12 November @ Hammersmith Apollo The Cat Empire 10 December @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire Pam Ann 28-29 March @ Hammersmith Apollo

For full details...

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

Europe’s their oyster for Hungry Kids of Hungary

By Gareth Mohen Performing in the UK and Europe was the perfect opportunity for Australian band Hungry Kids of Hungary to test drive songs for their upcoming album.

The pop-rock outfit stormed the continent in May and June expanding their European fan base, especially at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, where the band had already received extensive airplay.

“We had reasonable expectations over there (the Netherlands),” said lead vocalist and guitarist Dean McGrath.

“We thought we might get a few hundred people at our stage watching us.

“Then we got on stage and there was about somewhere between eight and 10 thousand people in the crowd.”

The new-found following gave the band a whole new audience to perform their songs to and measure different reactions to their music.

“A lot of the time it feels like going back to the start when you play in a new country,” said McGrath.

“Some of the places we were playing we were relatively unknown so we were downsizing in venues and crowd numbers. But we still found the response to be really positive.”

McGrath said the Pinkpop Festival was the perfect opportunity to meet some of the masters of rock.

“On the day a couple of the guys from our band started hanging out with the guys from Soundgarden and the guys from Mastodon. We’ve got some closet metal heads in our band and yeah they went and had a good old chat with those guys.”

The European tour was bookended with performances at Koko in Camden and the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town.

These and other UK gigs were enjoyed by a stronger contingent of Australian fans.

“It’s good when you’re on the road for a little while to speak with another Aussie,” said McGrath.

“They’re everywhere in the UK, but they’re a little bit more scarce in places like Paris and Germany.”

Surprisingly for Hungry Kids of Hungary, Paris turned out to have a secret Australian fan base.

“We weren’t aware until between the songs we could hear (Australian) accents amongst the cheering.”

The band also used time during their tour to mix tracks in Berlin with Simon Berkelman (previously from Philadelphia Grand Jury).

“He’s settled in Berlin and got a studio and he’s working with a bunch of bands there.

“Currently we’re in Sydney finalising tracks for the new album.

“We’re just going to figure out which bits we use from Berlin a little bit down the line.

“I wouldn’t say the new album is a major departure.

“At the end of the day we’re still a pop band and there are elements of the way we write songs still in play on this album. But I think the overall approach has been a little different.

The first album was written over about three years while we were still really in development stages and I think you can hear it. It’s fairly eclectic.

“This time round, we’ve been working together a while and we wrote all the songs within a year. I think it just sounds a little bit more focussed.”

The band has also fuelled their hunger for vinyl records by securing a vinyl pressing of their new album with their label.

“We’re all total vinyl obsessive and really into our parent’s record collections and music from the sixties and the seventies. We really wanted to get a more vintage sound and organic sound to the recordings so we worked a lot to tape and we tracked most of it live.

“I think it’s a little less shiny and pop-y this time round. It’s got a bit more warmth and a bit of a classic feel to it.”

Fans should stay tuned for the imminent release of Hungry Kids of Hungary’s follow up to their debut album Escapades.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

Xavier’s going to be Rudd-y brilliant With all the Olympics excitement in London at the moment, it’s very easy to forget that there is a world out there beyond the medal chasing supreme beings that are our national Olympians.

But there’s one Aussie musician who will be performing in the English capital this week, who is equally worthy of headline grabbing brilliance. Xavier Rudd, that most magnificently gifted of Australian musicians, will be performing at Camden’s Koko tomorrow night (Wednesday 8 August).

The man is a musical masterpiece, with the ability to play many different types of instruments from guitars, harmonicas and didgeridoos to stomp boxes and percussion. Weaving

together blues, reggae, indigenous and folk music - Rudd is famous the world over and tremendously popular with Australians (and Aussie expats).

With hits like Let Me Be, Follow The Sun, Come Let Go and songs from his new Spirit Bird album, Rudd is getting ready to rock London in his unique and refreshing way.

Don’t miss Xavier Rudd at London’s Koko from 7pm, Wednesday, 8 August.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

travel

10 | Travel

7 - 13 August 2012

n

tting This week we’re pu

Munich on the map

With just over a month to go until Oktoberfest 2012 starts in earnest and some very thirsty Aussies make the trek to Germany’s Munchen, VERONICA WHAANGA looks at what makes the Deutsch beer fest one of the greatest parties on earth.

Some are young, some are old and some are legless. The time of year is near again when hordes of travellers, beer swillers and beer spillers from the world over descend upon the people of Munich for the annual Oktoberfest.

What began as a night out for the locals - on 12 October 1810 - has become an international lager frenzy set inside the Theresienwiese – an enormous exhibition ground with carnival rides, souvenirs, food stalls and huge beer halls. If dancing on seats and tables while singing along to a brass band and swigging litre steins of beer sounds like your idea of a good time

then Oktoberfest is the place to be.

It all started with the mother of engagement parties: Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen’s betrothal to Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig (later Ludwig I). Then attended by almost the entire Munich population, it was such a success it became an annual affair. Little has changed, although the event was moved to the end of September for the better weather and to make sure a lot more people show up for the party.

Oktoberfest each year now attracts more than six million people who guzzle some seven million litres of beer over 16 days. The festival always begins on

..

Travel | 11

AustralianTimes.co.uk

the second last Saturday in September and ends on the first Sunday of October – this year 22 September to 7 October.

Each year the festival kicks off at noon on the first day in the Schottenhamel Tent where the lord mayor of Munich cracks open, or ‘taps’ the first barrel with a cry of “O’zapft is!” (“It is tapped!”).

There is no entrance fee to the festival grounds or beer halls, but it is a good idea to arrive early in the day to get a table inside a beer hall or, if the weather is good, outside in the beer gardens. You can only be served if you have a seat (whether sitting or standing on it). Arriving early has obvious repercussions when one litre steins are in hand, so it is advisable to take turns with your table mates to man the table or seats while the others look around the festival grounds.

Asides from thrilling rides and shoddy Bierfest souvenirs you can also buy your own (empty) steins, and a giant pretzel or bratwurst to line your stomach. The bratwursts are highly recommended for something approaching an authentic German experience – over 850,000 are sold during the festival.

The beer tents, set up by a number of

different Munich breweries, heave and pulsate with dancers on seats chanting along with the big brass bands as they belt out Bavarian folk songs and classics from the likes of Bon Jovi.

There are now 14 beer tents on die ‘Wiesen (‘the meadow’), each seating around 10,000 punters at any one time and each with its own unique crowd, food specialities, and characteristics.

The Hofbräu-Festhalle is considered the rowdiest, and happens to have the most tourists (and Antipodeans), particularly during the first week. The Hippodrom is said to be for the local VIPs, but seems to have more local and travelling singles than the other halls.

Most tents close at 11:30pm with last drinks at 10:30, but one or two stay open until 2am for those hard drinking souls.

The legendary serving wenches carry up to ten steins at a time in their ample arms, and when you consider that each stein is thick glass with one litre of the amber liquid you understand why their wrists are so heavily bandaged. The prices for one litre of beer will range from 9,10 € to 9,50 € during Oktoberfest in 2012.

For more stats and info, check out Oktoberfest.de/en/ AustralianTimes.co.uk/travel

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12 | Jobs & Money

7 - 13 August 2012

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Nurture needs fab healthy young women who have a strong sense of commitment and reliability to donate their eggs. Egg donation is a safe and rewarding process. In return for donating eggs you will be compensated for your time and you will feel pretty good about yourself too.

NOTE: Egg donation in the UK is non-anonymous and must be done for altruistic reasons only. Egg donors are compensated a set amount of £750 for their time and effort. 

Requirements Women between the ages of 20 and 35 Healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) Regular menstrual Cycle Free of hereditary illness

If this sounds like something you would like to do, please apply online: www.nurturedonors.com or email melany@nurture.com

Dollar Review

Australian Dollar strengthens on AAA ratings The Australian Dollar has seen a strong performance over the past week, coming to rest at 1.0568 to the US dollar and 0.6755 to the British pound. These are levels we have not experienced since late March this year. This comes amid rumours that the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank may under take further monetary stimulus.

Australia is currently one of a few countries to have maintained their AAA rating by all three major creditrating firms. Mackel at HSBC was cited as saying that he believes that the world of triple-A is a lot smaller than it used to be. It’s quite clear to him that foreign investors still see Australia as a very sound investment destination. He furthermore said that this type of capital flow has been, for the bond market in particular, quite supportive of the currency.

On the domestic front, the Aussie was seen to strengthen after reports showed Australia’s building approvals decreased by less than economists had expected. Expectations have arisen

that the Reserve bank will continue to cut the key cash rate from 3.5 percent to 2.8 percent in coming months.

Market sentiment shows that economists have attributed the Aussies climb not to domestic data but rather to a surge in risk appetite. Further lifted by the collapsing sovereign debt yields in Europe and surging global

GBP/AUD: 1.4802 EUR/AUD: 1.1722 AUD/USD: 1.0568 AUD/JPY: 82.9379 Exchange Rates at 09:58, 6 August 2012

Composed by Monique Chapman of 1st Contact :: 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, or call us on 0808 141 2335 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.

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Q:

I have been offered a Tier 2 work employment with a UK employer. I need to apply for a dependency visa for my wife and children (4 and 6 years respectively) and have been informed that the rules on family migration have changed recently. Can you kindly inform me what the new criteria for the dependency visa are?

A:

Yes, the immigration rules on family migration changed on 9 July 2012.

In order to qualify for the dependency visa, you must be the spouse, unmarried or civil partner of the main applicant.

Children under the age of 18years may also accompany the main applicant to the UK as dependants.

A minimum income threshold of £18,600 is required in order to sponsor the settlement of a non-EU spouse, partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner of non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationality, with a higher threshold for any children also sponsored; £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child.

Breytenbachs Immigration JP Breytenbach

Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants www.bic-immigration.com info@bic-immigration.com

Sport | 13

AustralianTimes.co.uk

What an amazing opening week of London 2012

Time for Gold: Australia’s Women’s Basketball aiming high

n

CHARLIE INGLEFIELD gives us some of the highlights of the Olympics so far…

So many superlative performances.

So many heroic failures. And throw in a topping of the distinctly bizarre just for good measure. Where to start after a fascinating first week of the London Olympics?

Well the Opening Ceremony set the trend, a brilliant Danny Boyleinspired extravaganza to get things going. The first half was rather like watching Usain Bolt in the 100m, electrifying pace, intensity, colour and utter brilliance. The second half was rather similar to the performance of chief weapon of mass distraction…I mean destruction, Australian team swimmer James Magnussen. Plenty of swagger, lots of noise and no end of potential but ultimately not getting to the finishing line first.

The ceremony even led to one perplexed and confused South African political activist Zak Mbhele to tweet that viewers outside the country needed to have taken a hallucinogen before watching the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony to get it. Quite how the NHS was brought into it, only Mr.Boyle will know. One commentator said that in the health service the medicines and treatment were free, but added: “Of course you have to wait several weeks to be treated.” It was way over the top, utterly ridiculous but we loved it. We will keep the team GB golden collars quiet for the time-being.

The swimming event has been thoroughly entertaining. Ian Thorpe’s dreadful dress sense did not take anything away from his thoughtful and wise insight in combination with the very jealous Gary Lineker.

Poor Gary had to lease out Ian to the excellent duo of Clare Balding and the silver fox, Mark Foster, as the finals started to heat up. The new trio enthusiastically jested, gesticulated and could only admire the incredible Michael Phelps, who was so laid back that you felt he may even be falling asleep at the medal ceremonies as they kept mounting up. Then again 22 Olympic medals, you could understand the late nights he has been dreaming of the past 12 years. And who could forget the men’s 200m fly, with the emotional Chad Le Clos, disbelieving that he had just beaten Phelps to gold. That is until his father, Bert, memorably celebrated with the crowd and the BBC. So much love in the air, that even the most ardent sports fan, would have reached for the box of tissues.

There were disappointments, namely team GB and Team Australia flattering to deceive with a number of so nearly’s that Sharon Davies spent most of her time consoling them in the post swim interview as they trooped in without a medal.

There were heroes and plenty of them. The splendidly named Missy Franklin, won the hearts with her smile. Ryan Lochte just looked too cool for school and Stephanie Rice, with a dodgy shoulder still looked utterly beautiful when stepping out from the unforgiving pool.

The less said about the Australian team in the 4x100 men’s freestyle (so not wise to call them the

weapons of mass destruction) the better. We all laughed in 2000, when the US team said they would smash the Australians like guitars.

I fear that there were a number of stifled laughs in the crowd when the Aussies limped in fourth trailing way behind the rampant French.

The support from the crowds has been utterly astonishing making events such as shooting, more popular than the FA Cup Final. 30,000 people crammed Eton Dorney every day cheering the rowers through with the memorable commentator Gary Herbert, squeaking higher and higher as the finishing line came into view in the races, and most of those were just in the first heats.

We have had controversy with Chinese and South Korean badminton players ‘not trying’ and rightly getting booted out of the competition. Team GB’s epic cycling performances were overshadowed by a disastrous miscalculation from Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish.

The 16 year old Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen has hit back at critics for her incredible times in winning gold, simply putting it down to hard work.

There have been world records aplently particularly in the pool and in the cycling velodrome. US swimmer Rebecca Soni broke her own world record twice, just to prove to herself that it wasn’t a fluke. Ye Shiwen destroyed her field in the 400m individual medley, coming down the last 50m quicker than Ryan Lochte.

There has been lots of glamour and beauty on show, lest we forget. Of course we should be concentrating on performances but one cannot help but admire the ‘athleticism’ of these athletes as well. The impossibly beautiful Romanian gymnast Catalina Ponor pouted and inspired her team to bronze in the women’s team event.

Beach volleyball has been without question the most popular in which Prince Harry has been a keen spectator. I am sure for the ladies that there has been a peak or two at the swimmers passing through the lanes. And that’s even before we get to the track and field!

So a summary of the first week and highlights from the pool: 1). Best swimmer so far: a tie between the legendary Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin and Ye Shiwen.

2). Most attractive swimmer: Stephanie Rice, imperious.

3). Best/worst dress sense (depending on how you look at it): Ian Thorpe.

4). Favourite fan: President Obama kept waiting to congratulate Michael Phelps.

5). Happiest father: Bert de Clos, a great bear of a man and a proud father to Chad de Clos.

6). Most embarrassing moment: Fellow US swimmer, Tyler Clary, questioning Michael Phelps’ commitment? 20 medals. Walk the walk, talk the talk Tyler.

7). Second most embarrassing moment: The name given to the Australian 4x100m relay team – ‘weapons of mass destruction’. It was never going to end well.

8). Most flirtatious commentator: Sharon Davies constantly patting the shoulders of the male swimmers postrace.

9). Best newcomers: Ye Shiwen, Missy Franklin and Ruta Meilutyte.

10). Champagne moment: Tied between Bert de Clos and the Michael Phelps medals, and the surprise on Ruta Meilutyte’s face as the 15 year old realized she had won gold.

By James Drummond SILVER! Silver! Silver! It doesn’t have the same ring as Gold! Gold!

Gold! But for the Australian Opals, Australia’s women’s Olympic basketball team, it’s a proud record of Olympic achievement, starting with bronze at Atlanta in 1996, and followed by silver at Sydney, Athens and Beijing. The Opals have become known as the team that is always the bridesmaid, never the bride – but not this year. The Opals are fighting fit, well ensconced in the Olympic Village in London, and determined to bring home the gold in 2012.

The 2012 team is a strong mix of Olympic veterans and brilliant newcomers. After an intensive boot camp in May 2012, when the whole team grouped at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for team and individual training and gym work to prepare for the Olympic Campaign, coach Carrie Graf is confident that this is as good as it gets.

“Everyone’s excited about…what we hope to achieve particularly at the London Olympics,” she said on the AIS section of the Australian Government website.

In the pre-Olympic warm up games in the UK and Europe, the Opals had a dream run, beating France, China, Great Britain and Brazil until they fell at the last hurdle against France, in spite of a powerhouse performance by sharpshooter Belinda Snell. But with star players and strong veterans Lauren Jackson and Suzy Batkovic resting from competition, it probably wasn’t surprising.

The Opals’ first game on the first day of competition was against Great Britain, where they downed the Brits 74-58. In the days that followed they lost narrowly to France 74-70, beat Brazil 67-61 and are lining up for a huge quarter-final match today.

According to the London 2012 Australian Olympic website, the Opals are going into the Olympics as strong favorites to challenge the supremacy of the US for gold. The US was the final stumbling block at Sydney, Athens and Beijing, but the fact is that it was the Australian Opals that faced them at the end on each occasion.

This time around the plan is not to get stopped by the US, and for team member Kristi Harrower, a four time Olympian, the preparations for victory have put the team on a strong footing. Harrower said the team has been getting better with every game, looking forward to the Olympic campaign.

Captain Lauren Jackson has been playing since she was 17, and is joined by veterans Harrower, Suzy Batkovic and Belinda Snell, but the team is also peppered with some fine ‘young guns’ like 20-year-old Liz Cambage, from the Dandenong Rangers, who started playing at 12 and won a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Also making their Olympic debuts are Rachel Jarry, Jenna O’Hea, Abby Bishop, Sam Richards and Kathleen Macleod, all eager to make this the Olympics that the Opals stop being the bridesmaids, and step up for the gold.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/London-Olympics

14 | Sport

Wallabies set for a little new blood Australia selectors will stick with the tried and trusted and infuse just a little new blood into their squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship.

A squad of 30 will be announced on Tuesday as the Wallabies gear up for a campaign that starts with backto-back matches against the world champion All Blacks in Sydney on 18 August and in Auckland the following Saturday.

New Zealand selectors named only one new cap, Blues prop Charlie Faumuina, in their 28-man squad, which included just three specialist locks.

Australian selectors have a new backline complication with Rebels winger Cooper Vuna ruled out of at least the first Championship game after suffering a shoulder injury playing for his Melbourne club on the weekend.

With Joseph Tomane already on the injured list, the selectors could call up uncapped Dom Shipperley from Queensland.

James Horwill and Dan Vickerman are sidelined by long term injuries so one uncapped lock is set be named alongside Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons and Sitaleki Timani.

NSW Waratah Kane Douglas and Melbourne Rebels rookie Cadeyrn Neville were the two uncapped second-rowers who participated in last week’s training camp.

A new face, or two, could also appear in the back row, where Wycliff Palu is injured and Ben McCalman has just returned from a long-term shoulder injury.

Reds youngster Jake Schatz looms as a bolter with the ability to play at blindside flanker or No.8, while exciting young openside flankers Liam Gill and Michael Hooper are contenders.

Injuries have eaten away at the depth of the props, with Salesi Maafu, Dan Palmer and Paddy Ryan all unavailable, but the established quartet of Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper and Ben Alexander should all be right to go.

Vuna and Tomane apart, utilities James O’Connor and Pat McCabe are the other backs currently on the injured list.

With McCabe out, Wallabies selectors are likely to give themselves plenty of options in the inside backs.

Hard-running Queenslander Anthony Faingaa trained at inside centre at the final camp.

Mike Harris, Adam AshleyCooper, Ben Tapuai and Rob Horne should all make the squad and be contenders for the No.12 jersey.

Another option would be to switch Berrick Barnes from five-eighth and bring back Quade Cooper into the pivot position, now he has some match fitness.

Cooper was one of a number of Wallabies who played club rugby last weekend.

The mercurial back was in sparkling form for Souths, playing the entire match in Brisbane after missing the Reds one Super finals fixture through suspension.

In Sydney, scrum anchor Robinson played 40 minutes for Eastwood. AAP AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

7 - 13 August 2012

Sharks hope for Carney-inspired finals charge

Tag Rugby Championships battle looms large

TRIP & CHASE: The 2011 London Tag Rugby Championships, social grade champions - Trip & Chase.

By Phillip Browne

Continued from p16... of view. And from an administration point of view were just sick of it and had to knock it on the head.”

Carney’s form has been down in recent weeks as he battled niggling injuries and the burden of rumours.

He broke those shackles with a brilliant two-try, 25-point performance against the Warriors in Auckland.

Flanagan said Carney has been tested by the Sharks and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and rumours were 100 per cent incorrect.

The club says the rumours surfaced after Origin III and before Carney faced former club the Sydney Roosters on 9 July.

“He’s going OK, he’s a tough kid but I just don’t think it’s fair,” Flanagan said.

“If it was any other player I’d be out there defending them as well.”

The fifth-placed Sharks face a desperate Newcastle next Monday and a win would cement their top eight position and keep them in the running to break into the all-important top four.

Flanagan expects regular starters Bryce Gibbs, Wade Graham and Ben Pomeroy back from injury following last week’s return of inspirational captain Paul Gallen.

“We’d like to think we can win all our games on the way home. I can’t see why not,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard and, not being arrogant, but if you want to play finals you’ve got to beat some of the better teams and we’re playing some of the better teams on the way home (Knights, Rabbitohs, Storm, Cowboys) so let’s have a crack at it.” - AAP AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

This year’s London Tag Rugby Championships will be the most sought after tag date, with a number of new sides signing up during the week to battle it out for the prestigious title.

With champion sides Churrr, South Field Sharks, Tumeke and Ireland powerhouses, the Bircroft Panthers already in the fold, Double Scrum & Coke and Tagquila Shots both from Canada Water have now entered the race for the 2012 London Tag Rugby Championship title!

The Tagquila Shots who include London Australian representative, Thomas Parsons, are the reigning champions at Canada Water and will be looking for a big tournament after finishing runners up at the last two one-day festivals which were the Finsbury Park Tag Rugby Festival in March and Rugby Rocks Richmond in April.

In the Men’s division, the Hardy Boyz from Finsbury Park are the early favourites but will have to get through the might of God Loves a Tagger & Wandsworth High Towers (both Wandsworth) first!

In the Mixed social division, last year’s champions, Trip & Chase are back to defend their title. They will have to battle it out against the likes of Colin (Richmond), Tagerbomb (Finsbury Park) & Westside Taginators (Acton).

Registrations close for Try Tag Rugby’s showpiece event of the year, on Monday, 13th August. Mixed A grade, Mixed social and Men’s team registrations are welcome. If you don’t have a team, individual registrations are also welcome. To enter a team or as an individual, visit Trytagrugby.com for all details.

If you would like to get involved in one of the fastest growing sports in London, new team and individual registrations are welcome. The Autumn season commences on 29th August. 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 info@ trytagrugby.com for more details.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

Continued from p16...

Rugby League’s lighting up Wembley

2012 CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

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Tickets start at £21

BOOK NOW, Call 0844 8561113 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk For Hospitality call 0844 856 1114

Sport | 15

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Lions, Demons heating up in AFL London finals

By Lee Crossley NORTH London made arguably the most powerful statement in AFL London’s first weekend of finals, beating West London by 40 points in Sunday’s elimination final at Bounds Green and sending the reigning champs out of the Premiership race.

While most clubs are despairing at dwindling lists due to players jetting off to enhance their tan, North London – and Wandsworth for that matter – seem to be having headaches of a good kind at the selection table with healthy lists from which to choose.

The Lions fielded one of their best sides of the season and, cheered on by a parochial home crowd, led all day to win comfortably 12.12 (84) to 6.8 (44).

Quentin Keeble booted five goals, while lace-out delivery came thick and fast from Luke Stevenson, Luke Hamilton and Benny Poole in the midfield. In defence, Dean Ipaviz brought his own ball, while Brendan ‘Irish’ McGeever at fullback beat multiple opponents throughout the day.

West London’s best chance of taking it to North came in the third term when North had one less player due to a send-off. West London tried in earnest to penetrate the lines, but North held them at bay and scored just one fewer point for the term – enough for them to steam home in the last.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Wandsworth were sublime in their Premiership semi-final against an under-strength Putney, winning 13.10 (88) to 5.13 (43) to advance to the Grand Final at Motspur Park on 18 August. There they’ll meet the winner of North London and Putney, Saturday’s preliminary finalists.

To single out any superior Demons’ players from Saturday’s victory would detract from the evenness of their team win and the consistency of every restof-world player in red and blue.

Many present thought Putney boasted the superior midfield with Clayton Fitzgerald, Andrew Lawson and Aaron

Knapman and those three certainly were among the best half-dozen on the field. However the Demons would have had the overwhelming majority of the best players if the best 20 or 30 were considered, adding weight to the adage that a champion team will always supersede one built around a handful of champions.

‘And we’ll win the flag this year’ is a line in the Wandsworth theme song.

This year, perhaps? There’ll be no one in white and blue to stop them this time.

Certainly, the Magpies appeared to lack focus when entering attack – their focal point Andrew Slevison, the league leading goalkicker with 54 from 10 matches is off travelling until the Grand Final. That left Luke Jackson to take the main forward post but the big South Australian couldn’t replicate the form that saw him bag eight against the Swans the week before as frustration got the better of him. On top of all this, four Magpies were last-minute withdrawals.

Both clubs met again on Sunday, this time in the Conference division, and the same result ensued: the Clapham Demons dominated their elimination final to knock Putney’s seconds out, 15.10 (100) to 5.8 (38).

Clapham was buoyed by a best-onground performance from Markham Johnson (back from football’s wilderness minus his toenails), whose hitouts from stoppages were just as effective as a kick in many cases.

Matt Ashton booted four goals as a floating forward in what was again yet another even team performance from a side that boasted many players who would walk into most senior sides (such is the depth of the Demons this finals series).

But let’s not get carried away.

Clapham must now account for Regent’s Park Lions in the preliminary final before they can even think about Conference flag favourite Shepherd’s Bush, which beat the Lions, 12.18 (90) to 10.4 (64), on Saturday.

By Will Denton

Craig Marshall has Raiders charges playing for the jumper and hungry for back-to-back flags. Trav Chiuchiarelli (the hardest name to spell in footy) has strung together a couple of impressive games up forward that seems to have given the side a lot of direction up front. The return of Cal Nicholls and Evan Scicluna from Cats’ duties has not harmed their midfield bite either.

Expect them to have a big say come 18 August on who holds the Conference trophy.

And there is excitement aplenty in the social division with Reading Roos beating Ealing Emus on Saturday, 8.13 (61) to 4.2 (26), to advance to their first Grand Final since joining the league five years ago.

The Emus, West London’s thirds and last year’s runners-up, will meet Sunday’s elimination final winners Balham Hawks, who defeated the Lions 8.9 (57) to 5.8 (38).

Which brings us to this weekend’s matches and there are some crackers.

With the Olympics winding down, occupy the other half (or better yet bring her/him along) and get to Regent’s Park (five minute walk from Bounds Green tube) on Saturday for the Preliminary Finals.

Images by Dewi Lewis Social, 11am: Ealing Emus v Balham Hawks Conference, 12.30pm: Regent’s Park Lions v Clapham Demons Premiership, 3pm: Putney Magpies v North London Lions AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

Silver! Silver! Silver! for Australia Continued from p16...

100m medley team home for bronze in a race which gave American Michael Phelps one final gold medal - his 18th - in the last swim of his career.

But the Australian swimmers finished with just one gold medal, their lowest haul since Barcelona in 1992, and failed to win a single individual title for the first time since Montreal in 1976.

Further seconds and thirds predominated in other sports, too, and at the time of print - Australia had just a solitary gold, but 12 silver and seven bronze at more than the halfway stage of the Games.

Despite being a long way short of the top five target, Australian Olympic officials insist it is still within their reach.

As three Australian athletes prepared to leave the Olympic village for disciplinary reasons - swimmers Nick D’Arcy and Kenrick Monk bound for European holidays and rower Josh Booth for home - Erin Densham was maintaining Australia’s proud record of winning a medal in every women’s triathlon since the sport was introduced at Sydney in 2000.

But she could not stay with the leaders in the final sprint and finished third.

Rower Kim Crow added to her silver medal in the double sculls with bronze in the single sculls, the first time an Australian oarswoman has won a medal in the small-boat event.

But Australia finished the rowing regatta without a gold for the first time since Sydney in 2000.

Drew Ginn’s men’s four were beaten by defending champions Great Britain in the most-anticipated race of the regatta.

The triple gold medallist broke down in tears later as he gave the strongest indication his 16-year Olympic career is over.

“It takes a toll on your family and it takes a toll on your body,” he said.

Brighter news awaits Australia in the sailing regatta at Weymouth on England’s south coast, where the nation’s sailors remain on course to win some highly sought gold.

World champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen are in strong contention in the 49er skiff class, world champions Malcolm Page and Mat Belcher are in the mix in the men’s 470 dinghy competition and Olivia Price is showing superb form in the women’s match racing competition, with results to come later this week.

However Australians have something to cheer, because nevermind the gold medal tally - as of midday on Monday (Day 10 of London 2012 Olympic competition), Australia’s dozen of sterling silver medals has put us FOURTH on the silver medal tally, only behind the sporting giants of China, Russia and the USA. Our sparkling London 2012 silver

RUBDOWN THE Who needs Olympics when AFL is this good

medals have come from: Jessica Fox (Women’s K1 Kayak); Men’s Cycling Team Pursuit (Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn, Glenn O’Shea); Men’s Rowing Four (James Chapman, Josh Dunkley-Smith, Drew Ginn, Will Lockwood); Women’s Rowing Double Sculls (Kim Crow, Brooke Pratley); Women’s Rowing Pair (Kate Hornsey, Sarah Tait); Christian Sprenger (Men’s 100m Breaststroke); James Magnussen (Men’s 100m Freestyle); Emily Seebohm (Women’s 100m Backstroke); Alicia Coutts (Women’s 200m Individual Medley); Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay (Alicia Coutts, Leisel Jones, Mel Schlanger, Emily Seebohm); Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay (Alicia Coutts, Mel Schlanger, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer); Mitchell Watt (Men’s Long Jump). - With AAP Should we be celebrating our silver success, continuing to gun for gold or just happy with any Australian Olympic performance? Tell us now at AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

Olympics, Sh-olympics. Our British friends may be thinking the keg of golden glory tastes pretty good about now. But let them have their brief moment of sunshine, because Friday night proved again why AFL is the greatest show on earth.

Seriously, there are not enough adjectives or expletives that can truly convey just how incredible Hawthorn v Geelong actually was.

All you could do was sit back, take a few deep breaths and think ‘wow’.

Now, bearing in mind that the Hawks haven’t beaten the Cats since the 2008 GF, there was never going to be a better opportunity to stamp yourselves as a genuine flag favourite whilst burying some old demons in the process.

Unfortunately, the Hawks missed the first quarter due the fact that the injured Buddy had organised a Foosball tournament. All it did was allow the Cats to kick a nine goal head start.

In a rage of saliva and Gyprock, Alistair Clarkson politely instructed his players to step away from Buddy and start playing footy. What followed was three of the most engrossing quarters of footy possibly ever, right up until the Hawks were somehow in front, with a few minutes left.

Hawthorn needed a goal to seal it and

the ball was deep inside attack. Paul Puopolo was about 30m in the clear and inexplicably decided now was a good time to attempt goal of the year.

Wrong. He missed and with seconds left, the ball went coast to coast, and into the hulking man-child arms of Tom Hawkins. The siren went and he calmly slotted a monster from about 80m. Cats win by 2 two, MCG erupts.

What does this mean? Well the ‘Kennett Curse’ continues on, the Hawks aren’t so sure anymore and no one in their right minds will want to be facing Geelong come September.

There were other games of footy too. Sydney quietly still go about their business, this time dismantling Carlton’s hopes of finals and consolidating top spot on the ladder.

Freo totally destroyed a decimated West Coast and are marching towards a top eight berth, if only one of the teams currently in there would drop out. Looks like it will be the Bombers, after Adelaide just pipped them. Pies also scraped over the line against the Saints. Finally, Richmond had an actual real win over Brisbane that must of felt like pure gold for the Tigers. Oh - and the Giants! Well, they just went and beat Port! Amazing (and farewell Port’s Matthew Primus because of it).

AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

West Coast not written off yet: Cox Continued from p16... the hitouts 61-38 yet were smashed 49-35 in the clearances.

Unless the fifth-placed Eagles (12-6) can find a quick fix they are in danger of slipping to seventh or eighth by season’s end and face a cutthroat away elimination final.

They host a resurgent Geelong on Friday night before taking on Port Adelaide (away), Collingwood (home) and Hawthorn (away) in a tough finish.

Cox conceded the nature and size of the recent losses were damning, but said the players were determined to get the season back on track.

“At stages throughout a year, sides have been written off. Everyone’s probably doing it to us at the minute,” Cox said on Monday.

“We’re happy with that. We’ll rectify that with performance.

“It really tests the character of this group.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position where we’re sitting fifth on the ladder. The destiny is in our own

hands. “(But) if we dish up performances like we did on the weekend, we’re going to be out quickly in the finals.

“Some things that happened on the weekend, individually and as a side we can’t stand for.

“We’ve shown over our year so far that when we do play near our best we are good enough to beat any side.”

Geelong, who sit just percentage adrift of the Eagles, will enter Friday’s night’s match on a high following their thrilling two-point win over Hawthorn.

Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins was the hero in that game with six goals including the match-winner - but Cox said the return from suspension of Darren Glass would help the Eagles quell the in-form forward.

West Coast winger Andrew Embley (shoulder) is a chance to make his return after two successful hit-outs in the WAFL, while Matt Rosa (jaw) is an outside chance. - AAP AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

TAG BATTLE ROYALE Teams shape up for Tag Championships P14

SILVER THE NEW GOLD FOR AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM n

Forget gold, Australia’s favourite new Olympic colour is silver. With almost as many silver medals as the USA and Russia, London 2012 might be one of Australia’s most successful Olympics for silver medals. Should we be celebrating our silver success, continuing to gun for gold or just happy with any Australian Olympic performance?

No-one remembers who comes second. If that old sporting maxim is correct, the 2012 Olympians will soon become the forgotten men and women of Australian sport, consigned to the dusty register of also-rans.

It’s a harsh judgment on elite athletes who devote their lives to the pursuit of excellence, and rise to the lofty height of second best in the world, but one that often proves true.

Silver medals are raining on the Australian team in London, and long jumper Mitchell Watt rounded out a silver dozen on Saturday, as he became the latest in a long line to come so close before finishing a runner-up.

As with so many before him, he came second to an athlete from the host nation, Greg Rutherford, as Great Britain celebrated what is shaping up as its greatest ever Games.

It was a similar story at the Olympic pool, where personal milestones for Alicia Coutts and Leisel Jones could do nothing to hide the grim fact that Australia’s swim team turned in its poorest performance for 20 years.

The Australians have grown well used to taking silver at the 2012 Games, so it was no surprise when the women’s 100m medley relay team finished second behind the world record-breaking Americans.

Their silver was the fifth medal of the Games for 24-year-old Coutts, equalling the Australian record held

by Ian Thorpe and Shane Gould for the most medals at a single Olympics.

It was also the ninth career medal for Jones, equalling Thorpe’s record for the most Olympic medals by an Australian.

James Magnussen brought the men’s ...continued on p15

Get the latest Aussie Olympics news at AustralianTimes.co.uk

ANYONE FOR FOOTY?

Drug talk over, Sharks set to go: Flanagan Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has revealed the extent of how drug rumours about star player Todd Carney affected the club but he’s confident they can win every remaining game and push hard for a place in the NRL top four.

Flanagan said he had no other choice but to knock it on the head after the Sharks were swamped by inquiries about alleged drug use that first surfaced in internet forums.

With the burden lifted, he now believes the resurgent Sharks are capable of building on their 45-4 thrashing of the Warriors and win every game on a tough road into the finals.

“The speculation has just gone on for too long,” Flanagan told AAP. “There’ve been inquiries - phone inquiries and sponsor inquiries and the board of directors and all that stuff (have become involved).

“It’s got to affect him and I’m just sick of it from a coach’s point ...continued on p14

Wounded Eagles vow to bounce back in the AFL

Get over your Olympic disappointment with the latest from the AFL London Finals | P15

Ruckman Dean Cox has warned rival clubs to write off West Coast at their own peril, claiming the Eagles will regroup in time to make a major stand during the AFL finals.

Heavy losses to Sydney (52 points), Adelaide (49) and Fremantle (65) in recent weeks have put the Eagles a game and percentage adrift of fourth spot.

Of even more concern has been the way their usually-reliable midfield has been so clinically dismantled, with coach John Worsfold questioning the intensity of his charges after the loss to the Dockers.

In that game, West Coast won ...continued on p15