Australian Times weekly newspaper | 4 December 2012

4 - 10 December 2012 – Issue: 441

AWAY TOURIST FROM HOME TRAPS Aussie joins cast of Holby City

ENTERTAINMENT P6

LITTLE MATCH GIRL

A fairytale with a twist

Eating abroad without breaking the bank TRAVEl P8

entertainment P6

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Aussies carbon emission shame n

Australia has been named among three countries with the highest per capita emissions from burning fossil fuels.

By Andrew Drummond AUSTRALIA rates among the world’s highest per capita carbon dioxide emitters in new figures released by British researchers.

In 2011, Australia recorded 17.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person, on par with the US, a team of specialist climate change researchers at the University of East Anglia has reported.

The figure is up from 16.3 tonnes per person in 2010 and takes Australia’s total output to 392 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, representing 1.2 per cent of the world’s 2011 total.

“The United States, Canada and Australia are really the three (countries) that have much bigger emissions per person than any other,” director of the University’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Corinne Le Quere told AAP. “There are a range of oil-producing countries, like Qatar, which are much higher in terms of tonnes per person, but in terms of population size, they cannot be considered in the same category.”

The research team forecasts a record high of 35.6 billion tonnes of global emissions in 2012, but Prof Le Quere said it was too early to determine Australia’s contribution as a part of that projection.

While Australia’s overall and per capita carbon emissions were not at their highest in 2011 - greater amounts were recorded in 2008 (393 million tonnes) and 2009 (400 million tonnes) - Prof Le

SAM SIMMONS MASTER OF THE ABSURD | P7 Quere called for very aggressive policy to combat future fossil fuel-related output.

“Some countries - Belgium, Denmark, France, Sweden, and the UK - have succeeded to reduce their energy usage by up to five per cent and it’s that sort of aggressive policy that’s needed in other rich countries,” Prof Le Quere said.

“One of Australia’s greatest contributions of course is its use of coal and that I think will continue.”

The team’s report, to be published on Monday in online journal Nature Climate Change, named China (28 per cent), the United States (16 per cent), the European Union (11 per cent), and India (seven per cent) as the biggest

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contributors to global carbon emissions.

However, while emissions in China and India grew, the changes did not match booming population growth, while the US and EU posted a ...continued on p3

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Applications for finance are subject to credit approval. Full terms and conditions will be included in our Loan Offer. Fees and charges are payable. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 is incorporated in Australia with limited liability, registered in England No.BR250 and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. This communication is only directed at persons living within the UK and it must not be acted upon or regarded as being directed to persons outside of the UK.*APRA monthly banking statistics, 2012.

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LAWYERS for an Australian man facing drugs charges and a possible death sentence in Malaysia say they are optimistic about winning an acquittal after it was revealed police made mistakes when carrying out crucial analysis work.

Dominic Bird has pleaded not guilty to two charges, the most serious of which relates to drug dealing and carries a mandatory death sentence.

He has also been charged with drug use.

The Perth man was arrested in a police sting on March 1 at Old Town White Coffee, a cafe on Jalan Dang Wangi in central Kuala Lumpur.

It’s alleged he offered to sell undercover police 167 grams of methamphetamine.

But on the first day of Bird’s trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah slammed forensic analysis work carried out by police, saying they had failed to test a sufficient amount of the drugs.

Under Malaysian law, the police were required to test a minimum ...continued on p3

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Aussie drugs case flawed

6/08/12 5:08 PM

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2 | News

4 - 10 December 2012

The trans-Tasman rivalry:

Friendly banter or all-out war?

n The moral is clear: New Zealanders do not have to like being called

Australian, but that does not make anyone who calls you one a racist.

Publisher: Bryce Lowry Editor: Alex Ivett Production/Design: Jackie Lampard Sports Editor: Tim Martin Contributors: Shannon Crane, Phill Browne, Paul Judge, Sepi Roshan, Erin Somerville, Melissa Shortal, Justin Ng, Gareth Mohen, George Katralis, Cameron Jenkins, Chris Arkadieff, Lee Crossley, Mel Edwards, Will Fitzgibbon, Bronwyn Spencer, Emily Banyard, Clare

Boyd-Maccrae, Jonathon Waldheim, Paul Bleakley, Daniel Shillito, Mat Lyons, Sharon Spence Lieb, Nicole Crowley, Alex Bruce-Smith, Tyson Yates, Amber Rose, Bianca Soldani, Jennifer Perkin Advertising Manager: Dominic Young Directors: P Atherton, J Durrant N Durrant, R Phillips and A Laird Additional content:

Who are we?

Australian Times is written and compiled by young Australian journalists living in the UK. Contributing on a volunteer basis, they are uniquely placed to reflect the interests, opinions and attitudes of our community. If you would like to join us, contact info@australiantimes.co.uk Address: Unit 7C, Commodore House Battersea Reach, London SW18 1TW Tel: 0845 456 4910 Email: info@australiantimes.co.uk

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By Paul Bleakley LIKE all media organisations, Australian Times has a firm commitment to reporting the news impartially and fairly. It is not often that a newspaper like ours finds itself at the centre of controversy as it has this week. Our open letter to the Lord Chancellor, Christopher Grayling, regarding the racial abuse conviction of Petra Mills has been met with a firestorm of debate from Australians, New Zealanders and British people alike and has been covered extensively in the New Zealand media.

For those that may have missed the letter that sparked this controversy, following a neighbourhood dispute New Zealand-born Chelsea O’Reilly was called a “fat stupid Australian”

by Czech-born Petra Mills. The case was brought to Macclesfield magistrates’ court where Mills was found guilty of racial abuse and fined £110 for her troubles.

The case posed the difficult question of what actually constituted a racial slur. Ms Mills erroneously described her neighbour as an ‘Australian’, but is that enough to constitute the serious crime of racial hatred? If I was offended by someone mistakenly abusing me and calling me an ‘American’, would I be able to prosecute them for racial hatred? How is being Australian even a ‘race’ to begin with?

Australian Times published an open letter asking the Lord Chancellor to consider the logic and common sense of this judicial decision. It was intended to be a little bit tongue in cheek, and mostly satirical, however the appeal for common sense expressed in the text of the letter were genuine.

We did not expect the global response that came as a result of this letter. Journalist Kieran Campbell used excerpts of our open letter in an article for The New Zealand Herald that has since been shared on social media sites almost 1000 times. I was approached to speak from the Australian perspective on toprated New Zealand radio program Morning Report. It appeared that, rather than making an impact in the

Your Say On: Appeal planned in “stupid fat Australian” case

This is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. She’s not too bothered about being called “fat” and “stupid” but an “Aussie” that’s way below the belt. Until I moved to Britain I never really knew about the dislike Kiwis often have for Aussies. It’s a bit like the Canadian/US thing I suppose. People here always ask what my accent is because

Office of the Lord Chancellor, it had touched a nerve far away in the land of the long white cloud.

The response to our open letter and appeal for common sense has fallen roughly along the lines of nationality. Australians have responded to the article by reaffirming their pride in their country, and have registered their opposition to the term ‘Australian’ being considered insulting in any way possible. The British have generally seen it as an affront to logic and yet another example of the nanny state stripping away every last vestige of free speech.

The most significant and impassioned response, however, has come from New Zealanders.

It makes sense to some degree: the original story was an issue of a Kiwi being ‘slurred’ by being called an Australian. Alas, it seems that the sense of détente and camaraderie that is presumed to exist between Kiwis and Aussies when we coexist in the UK has evaporated in a flash.

The New Zealanders that have responded to this issue have provided arguments supporting the court’s decision that all share a somewhat unsettling trend: they claim that it is racial abuse to be called an Australian because we are perceived as “a criminal, bigot or some drunken yob low-life”.

Now, I think I speak for a lot of Australians when I say that I wasn’t aware that the feelings others held against our nation were so strong. A bit of friendly banter? Sure. But to be so bad that it would be considered a slur? One respondent to our open letter, Clara St Kilda, even claimed that “it’s no

less acceptable to call someone the n* word than it is to call someone an Australian”. Anyone who knows the history and violent antipathy associated with ‘the n* word’ will agree that this is a bold statement, and indication that there is serious hostility lingering beneath the surface of trans-Tasman relations.

Another New Zealander living in the UK, Ian Goldsmith, believes that “the only reason New Zealanders get teased for (being Australian) is because it’s pretty well common knowledge that it works” as an effective tease. That poses the question: just because a person may feel miffed at having their nationality misidentified, is that enough to label another person a racist?

The fact is that Petra Mills abused New Zealander Chelsea O’Reilly.

She called her fat and stupid, and those were words that were intended to hurt Ms O’Reilly’s feelings. Was her use of the term ‘Australian’ a form of racial abuse?

Let us consider for a second that it might have been. This would imply that the Czech-born British woman living in the north of England knew the inherent dynamics of the trans-Tasman relationship and manipulated this lingering antipathy (that I did not even know existed) in order to inflict emotional abuse.

I think the moral of the story is clear: you do not have to like being called Australian. That does not make anyone who calls you one a racist.

apparently Kiwis get upset if you confuse them with Australians. It’s a funny old world.

On: Julie Bishop faces questions on CSR asbestos cases

Possum

What is this world coming to…?

Sean

On: Photo of the Week – Harvest Season WA Love it. Give me the Waifs and a broad brimmed hat and I feel content with this imagine in mind.

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Let’s hear what Abbott has to say instead of hiding behind Julie. He does this a lot when the going gets tough – wheels out his token ladies … if there has to be an investigation into Julia’s decency then open up Julie’s can of worms at the same time with regard to asbestos.

Stephen

Zoey

?

What’s your view Share your comments on these and more stories online: AustralianTimes.co.uk

News | 3

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Australia amongst world’s highest carbon emitters Continued from p1... reduction on 2010 figures.

The projected 2.6 per cent rise in global emissions for 2012 takes output from burning fossil fuels to 58 per cent above 1990 levels, the baseline year for the Kyoto Protocol.

Last week, the Australian government announced it was ready to commit to limiting annual emissions to an average 99.5 per cent of 1990 levels (287 million tonnes) from 2013 to 2020 as part of its commitment to the second Kyoto period.

But Prof Le Quere warned such commitments may not be enough to hold the increase in global average temperature below two degrees celsius or 1.5 degrees celsius above preindustrial levels.

“I am worried that the risks of dangerous climate change are too high on our current emissions trajectory. We need a radical plan,” she said.

While Prof Le Quere said China is not expected to reach its peak carbon output until between 2020 and 2030, Australia should be nearing its peak and further investment in alternative energy generation would aid the process.

Fun?? ? Explaining the English: Facts ? ? Aunt Mabel reveals all

How did the tradition of Afternoon Tea start?

The tradition of sitting down to a small meal and tea in the afternoon is believed to have been popularized by the Duchess of Bedford and friend of Queen Victoria, Anna Russell in the 1840s. Feeling peckish in the long gap between lunch and dinner, she began inviting her friends to join her in a mid-afternoon sit-down snack, a activity that soon took off in wealthy British society. It is said the first commercialized sit down tea room was opened in 1864 by the Aerated Bread Company at London Bridge and was popular amongst women of the Victoria era.

Puzzled by the Poms? Send your question to Aunt Mabel at editor@ australiantimes.co.uk with subject heading ‘Explaining the English’

Suspect croc ‘well known’ to NT locals THE crocodile believed responsible for snatching a nine-year-old boy from a remote Northern Territory swimming spot was “well known” to the local community, according to police.

A police spokesman said the suspect crocodile was old and had lived side by side with the Nhulunbuy community “for years”.

“It was virtually to the point there was interaction between the croc and the community,” the spokesman said.

The child was swimming with a group of people in Port Bradshaw estuary when he was grabbed by the crocodile at about 12.30pm (CST) on Saturday.

Adults threw spears at the animal but it responded by dragging the boy into deeper water and possibly out to the nearby open ocean.

A massive search is underway and four members of the NT water police flew

east from Darwin on Sunday morning.

They join officers from the Nhulunbuy police station, about 80 kilometres north of the attack site, as well as local sea rangers.

A police spokesman said the search would continue on Monday but grave fears were held for the boy.

“Not too many people come away from a crocodile attack, I’m afraid,” he said.

The latest attack comes after a sevenyear-old girl was taken by a crocodile while she was swimming at a local waterhole in the NT last month.

The girl was at the Gumarrirnbang outstation, 100km west of the remote community of Maningrida, when she was taken on November 17.

A three-metre crocodile was shot dead in the billabong the next day and human remains were found inside. – AAP

Lawyers hopeful of an acquittal for Perth man Continued from p1...

of 10 per cent of the contents of each package in which the drugs were contained.

“That didn’t happen,” Mr Abdullah said.

The police forensics officer that carried out the test admitted to the court that just 0.07 per cent of the drugs was tested.

“She didn’t test enough,” Mr Abdullah said.

“What we have established actually is very critical.

“If a judge considers it properly, the whole charge should fall.”

Mr Abdullah said the analysis was “seriously flawed”, adding he was optimistic the “technical defence” could save Bird’s life.

“There is no such thing as a hopeless case. It depends on how much work you do and this is a case that is certainly not hopeless,” he said.

“It is a strong case from the prosecution from what they have hinted, but it is not a hopeless case. It is a case that we can defend.”

The drugs Bird had allegedly been carrying in a Mr Potato chips container when he was arrested were presented to the court on Monday.

A smaller quantity of drugs was also allegedly found at his address in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite the prospect of a death sentence hanging over him, Bird appeared to be in good spirits on Monday, smiling as he was reunited with members of his family, including his father and sister, as he was led into court in handcuffs.

Dressed in a black pinstripe suit and

wearing a white and grey-striped tie, he spent the hearing with his father and sister, as well as a number of friends, huddled just a metre behind him.

His father and sister were allowed to join Bird for lunch in the courthouse after the hearing was adjourned.

The trial comes as Malaysia debates the use of the death penalty.

Mr Abdullah said he was hopeful at the very least, the “mandatory” rule would be eliminated.

“They are considering to either remove that first, or remove the death penalty altogether,” he said.

While it is likely the changes to the law, if made, would occur after Bird’s trial is completed, Mr Abdullah said they would probably be applied retrospectively, raising the prospect that his client would avoid execution even if convicted.

“When it matters about life and death, the powers that be will always apply it retrospectively,” he said.

The last Australian executed in Malaysia was Michael McAuliffe, who was hanged in June 1993.

A decade earlier, Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers were arrested at an airport on the Malaysian island of Penang and charged with drug trafficking after they were caught with 141.9 grams of heroin.

They were hanged in July 1986 in Kuala Lumpur’s notorious Pudu jail.

Bird’s trial was adjourned until Tuesday. - AAP

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4 | UK Life

4 - 10 December 2012

Seafood surprise

An open letter to the

n Head Chef at Gordon Ramsey’s Maze Grill, Chris Arkadieff, shows us how to prepare a seasonal recipe that marries the delicate taste of ocean trout with a perfect combination of spicy flavours.

chris’s

kitchen > CHRIS ARK

I have always been a big fan of ocean trout, and its distinctive rosy pink/orange flesh and subtle flavour is ideal for my dish this week. Ocean trout is less salty in flavour, which will work in harmony with the spices and marinating liquors that this

recipe requires. Once our trout has marinated for the required time the delicate flesh will change to a texture similar to smoked salmon, perfect for salads or sharing plates with friends.

When looking for your ocean trout, skip the large supermarkets and head to your local fishmonger or farmers market. Make sure your fish has clear eyes and a distinctive fresh aroma of the sea. Buying only the freshest fish available will ensure a great result.

Ask your fishmonger to fillet and pin bone your fish to avoid any mess when you get home. This dish requires a 1 to 1.5 kg fish, which will feed around 4-5 people. If you are cooking for less people, just use one fillet and pan fry the other for another meal or wrap in cling film and freeze for a later date.

So lets get started on this week’s recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

h it w t u o tr n a e c o d re u c a k Vod pickled radishes and charlotte potatoes

What you need

• 750g fillet of ocean trout • 1.75 litres of water • 335g salt • 675g sugar • 30g black peppercorn • 12 star anise • 6 cloves • 30g coriander seeds • 50mls white wine vinegar • 1 head of fennel, sliced • 1 bunch of coriander • 10 juniper berries • 500ml vodka

What to do

Trout • Add all the ingredients except for the vodka and trout into a pan and bring to the boil. Take the pan off the heat and allow to cool. Once the liquid has cooled, add the vodka and place both sides of the trout in the marinade for 18 hours and then hang to dry for 24 hours.

Potatoes • 300g charlotte potatoes • 3tsp sea salt

• 1 clove • Place the potatoes in a pan of cold water with the salt and garlic and bring to the boil. The potatoes are ready when you can easily pierce them with a fork.

Dressing • 10Oml white wine vinegar • 200ml olive oil • ½ tsp sugar

• ½ tsp of Dijon mustard To build • Slice the trout thinly and lay on a plate. Toss the potatoes and sliced radishes in the dressing and allow to marinate for 10 minutes. Scatter the potatoes and radishes on top of the trout. To finish add a little sea salt and a few leaves of dressed rocket – then enjoy!

bringers of Christmas I’m sorry Santa, but this one isn’t for you. We had our fun, but it’s all been downhill since my fifth Christmas, when the toys I found in the closet appeared in my sisters stocking. And Santa, we all know you don’t deliver your Christmas presents three weeks early to the parents, do you?

No, this letter goes out to the bringers of Christmas as I know it in London. This is to walking down Oxford St (after the shops have closed) and admiring the lights. This it to the John Lewis snowman, the shop front presents-and-tree displays, to the mulled wine smell in every pub. This is to anyone who has ever been ice skating on a cold winters night, and to all the cheesy made-forTV Christmas movies.

I just wanted to say, cheers.

I know most of us roll our eyes when the first hints of Christmas marketing begin in October. Any other year, I’d be right there with you. The thing is, though - Christmas is supposed to be about family, and for us Australians here in the UK, our families are pretty much as far away as you can get.

We Aussies are pretty good at sticking together. I mean, we’re so

good at it that sometimes I wonder if we’ve even left home. The point is, you find your overseas family and you look after each other, and at the end of the year you wake up on December 25th and somehow end up horrendously drunk before 11am.

It’s not a bad way to spend Christmas. It’s just not quite the same ...And that’s why this year I’m not ripping my eyes out in Grinchlike madness at the sight of tinsel, or suffering jaw-clenching induced migraines from multiple renditions of ‘Jingle Bells’.

It’s all the cheesy madness infused with British charm, the way Richard Curtis and Harry Potter taught me Christmas was supposed to be. It’s just comforting, you know? It’s like drinking tea and wearing trackies while a friend is cooking you something delicious.

So to all the bringers of a London Christmas - cheers.

I like your style.

Love, Alex PS - I’m watching ‘Love Actually’ again, if you wanted any tips. Just sayin’.

UK Life | 5

AustralianTimes.co.uk

My 15 minutes n of (almost) fame

Photo of the Week: the Milky Way from Oz Some of the best sky in world can be seen in Australia’s mountains in winter. Titled ‘heart tree stars’ this shot captures the beauty of the Milky Way from rural Australia.

n It’s every Australian in London’s dream.

To be quoted in the Evening Standard, and be admired and feted by commuters city wide. For ANNA BOW, the fame and glory was almost in reach, until a blonde in skinny jeans stole her limelight.

I almost became famous yesterday. I was stopped by a journalist from the Evening Standard. Well, my blonde-haired, blue-eyed, skinny-jeaned friend was stopped by a journalist from the Evening Standard. But I was walking a few steps ahead. The journalist - let’s call her Kate - asked my friend for her opinion on the Royal Family and as she indicated to her photographer and his rather impressive DSLR, I stepped closer.

Realizing that we were together, Kate turned to me said “oh and your opinion of course!” I was in.

She took my name, my occupation, my age. After stating that I was 27 but “only just”, we engaged in witty banter about the perils of entering your late twenties – “it’s all downhill from here” and so on. Then we got down to business. Kate asked why I think the Royal family are currently so popular.

I said that the photos of their tits and balls in the media help.

Realizing that this journalist was in possession of my identifying personal details, and that she had the power to share my opinion with an audience of thousands of commuter readers including my future husband/employer/ landlord, I quickly retracted the statement and redeemed myself with some poignant and insightful observations. I spoke about the uniqueness of the present time whereby in celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and reflecting on her reign, we are also acknowledging her impending demise. I contrasted the Queen’s frailty with the youth and glamour of ‘power-couple’ Will and Katherine, whose recent marriage not only cemented them in celebrity, but also symbolizes a new chapter in British history.

Scrawling in shorthand and nodding enthusiastically in agreement, Kate finally signaled to her photographer that it was time to capture the face behind this magic.

I looked into the camera with a winning smile and with three quick, blinding flashes, we were done. Kate turned her attention to my friend

who yabbered something about a merit-based society, while I basked in the afterglow of the camera’s flash. Kate and I exchanged a knowing look, and as we parted ways I called out: “Make me sound intelligent! I’m looking for a job over here!”

At work I was (literally) spinning in my chair with glee at the prospect of my upcoming fame, which only became awkward once when I tried spinning with no hands and almost fell off the chair into my boss’s lap. But I was too elated to care. I daydreamed about the autographs I would sign on my commute home. The double take of the dashing young man sitting opposite me on the tube when, after making flirtatious eye contact, he returns to reading the paper and pauses. He looks at the paper. Now back to me. He looks at the paper.

Now back to me. I’m on a horse.

As 5pm edged painfully closer I got my phone out in preparation for the onslaught of texts from long lost friends and former lovers. Still daydreaming (What page I was on?

How many copies should I send my mum? Where does one gain access to a laminator in this city?), it came at 5:15. The first text. I was ready.

“Your friend is in the paper!!”

What. The. Needless to say I worked late to miss the rush hour paper frenzy of the London underground. Traveling alone and dejected, I was rather pleased by the sea of papers lining the empty chairs of the tube.

Satisfied to see people leave behind what is clearly already yesterday’s news. I even spotted a man using a corner of the paper to wipe his nose.

Little wins.

I walked home making no effort to step around any renegade papers on the floor, and looking forward to the warm hug of my apartment and the cheerful smiles of my housemates, where my brush with fame would be a distant memory. And as I opened the door…

“Your friend is in the paper!!”

It’s obviously because I’m not blonde.

“MANY people think that to get great views of stars you have to go to places like the tops of volcanoes in Hawaii, but some of the best sky in world can be seen in Australia’s mountains in winter.

“This photo was taken on a farm in the snowy mountains called Yalcowinna. It is far enough away from any town that the stars are able to be seen in all their glory. The night I took this photo it was -8°C making the sky even clearer than normal. The milky way stretched across the entire length of the sky with shooting stars ripping across every few minutes.

The tree in front is one of the only

snow gums on the farm and is few hundred years old, this was just another night in its long life.”

Image and words provided by an Australian reader Charles Davis. For more images of the wonders around us by Charles Davis go to 500px. com/charlieshadow

Do you have a picture you want to share?

Email editor@australiantimes.co.uk with your photos of life in London, the UK, Australia or from your travels, and we could feature it as photo of the Week.

6 | Entertainment

What’s On Cracker (Aussie film screening) 5 December Shortwave Cinema

Contact: lafsociety@hotmail.com

The Cat Empire 10 December @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire Rolf Harris 8 February @ Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre Wolfe Bowart’s Letter’s End 24-27 February @ Southbank Centre The Australian Pink Floyd Show 25 February @ London 02 Arena Olivia Newton-John 13 March @ Royal Albert Hall Tommy Emmanuel 16 March @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire For full details...

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

See what we are following this week on On the eve of Ponting’s retirement from Test cricket, the Twitterverse pays tribute: Piers Morgan @piersmorgan Biggest compliment I can pay Ricky Ponting is that he’s been a serial pain in the bails to all us Poms for the last 17 years #Punter #Legend Julia Gillard @JuliaGillard Good luck to Ricky Ponting in his last Test and to the Aussie team for a resounding victory in Perth! @CricketAus JG Tony Wilson @byTonyWilson Love to see a contemplative, post-career Ricky Ponting return to the Bourbon and Beefsteak just for the beefsteak. #AusvRSA #punter Aust Cricketers Assn @ACA_ Players The South Africans form a guard of honour for Ricky #Punter Ponting as he makes his way to the crease #AUSvSA

4 - 10 December 2012

Aussie in the City n

Little Match Girl with a big stage presence

Australian actress Natasha Leigh joins the cast of long-running UK soap Holby City. She chats to PAUL BLEAKLEY about adapting n INTERVIEW | She crowd surfs and can sing beautifully in three languages (English, the Aussie accent to the medical lingo.

French and German). She is postmodern yourself as an artist,” she said.

It is not out of the ordinary to The role of Lilah Birdwood posed hear an Australian voice on British cabaret sensation Meow Meow and she is relatively unique challenges to Leigh television. All you have to do is turn as an actress - particularly when it on Home and Away or Neighbours ready to set the Southbank Centre stage came to pronouncing the complex any evening to get a comforting medical jargon associated with reminder of home, albeit in the dulcet on fire. Well, hopefully not actual fire. tones of Alf Stewart.

However, it is far more unusual to hear an Australian voice in British made programs. One such exception is Australian actress Natasha Leigh since taking on the role of Dr Lilah Birdwood in long-running UK drama Holby City recently.

Leigh, a graduate of the Australian Acting Academy, joins the British medical drama in its fifteenth season for an eight-episode appearance as a focused and determined Australian doctor studying to become a surgeon at the hospital that serves as Holby City’s setting. Her character immediately became close - perhaps too close in some cases - to many of the program’s established cast members.

Leigh claims that winning a role on Holby City was an exciting moment in her career, particularly as it marked her first job as an actress outside the Australian entertainment industry.

She told Australian Times: “I started crying when I heard [that she had won the role]. This industry is a roller coaster and I feel very blessed when I get a chance to work. It was obviously very exciting to land such an amazing role on such a massive show.

“In terms of celebrating – my girlfriends and I shared a nice bottle of champagne!”

Although her role on Holby City marked Leigh’s first major international experience, she has been prominently featured in Australian productions for a number of years. Her breakthrough role as Melissa Hollingsworth in 2010 drama Underbelly: The Golden Mile saw her working alongside other rising Australian stars such as Firass Dirani and Emma Booth.

“I have played some very interesting roles! They have all been so different but they are always intense, raw, vulnerable and honest. I love roles you can get your teeth into and test

taking on the character of an aspiring surgeon. Leigh says that working on a medical drama was a notably different experience to any of the roles she had taken on in the past.

She said: “Learning dialogue for me is easy, but this is totally different. It’s not person-to-person chat a lot of the time, its lists, lists, lists, which I found difficult to remember sometimes.

“Also, with my Aussie accent, I really had to articulate my words for the UK audiences to understand me.”

Aside from the occasional pronunciation challenge, Leigh found working on the iconic British television program to be a positive experience and says that she was welcomed with open arms by Holby City’s crew and fans alike.

She said: “It’s lovely being the only Australian on the show. My nickname was ‘Kylie’ and I was constantly being called ‘ya hoon’ and ‘flamin’ galah’ though!

“I have had some great feedback, which is always lovely. I have just started with Twitter too, which is keeping me up late responding to my fans in the UK, but I enjoy it! The UK audiences have always had a soft spot for Aussies.”

Although she has made her mark in the British entertainment industry, even being named ‘Best Dressed’ at the recent Inside Soap Awards, Leigh insists that she will continue to support the Australian entertainment industry and perform in Australian dramas whenever she has the chance.

“It is positive to support the local industry, though it is limited in Australia. When I travel to the US or UK no one really knows anything about our industry which is saddening,” she said.

“I think artists should always travel as it’s great for character and opportunities, but always support home.”

Leigh intends to return to London next year, as well as travel to Los Angeles to audition for roles in television programs during the American pilot season. Her role as Dr Lilah Birdwood on Holby City will come to a conclusion in early December.

Natasha Leigh can be seen on Holby City on BBC1 at 8pm on Tuesday nights.

By Georgia Dawes Armed with a purrrrfect set of vocal chords, a wicked sense of humour and timeless glamour, the multi-award winning Australian Cabaret revival revolutionist Meow Meow warmly invites you to the UK premiere of her deliciously dark twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale Little Match Girl, as part of the Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival.

In this modernised fairy tale Meow Meow, who plays the despairing Match Girl, tries to stay warm in the cruel cold of winter with her dwindling supply of matches.

Meow’s version perfectly combines Anderson’s tragic tale with her own distinctive comedy styling, signature physical theatre and a vast and eclectic musical pallet full of brand new tracks and some covers. It is a unique blend of humour and heartache.

She tells Australian Times: “I have loved the Little Match Girl story all my life and there is enough flexibility in the story to incorporate a contemporary twist full of comedy and tragedy.

“It is up to the audience as to which parts they take as humour and which ones as tragedy.”

The show reunites Meow with her regular accompanist, composer and best friend Iain Grandage whom she says “takes her lyrics and turns them into musical masterpieces”.

Meow also pays credit to Australia’s Malthouse Theatre Artistic Director Marion Potts, the Wild Dog Orchestra and Chris Ryan for turning her vision into an even better reality.

Joining Meow on stage on piano for the UK leg of her worldwide tour will be one of her great friends, the marvellous Lance Horne from New York whom Meow says is “a naughty, naughty influence on me”.

Also present is a band of sensational musicians from London. Meow says her “band must be fast, happy with improvisation and are willing to go with me wherever the journey takes me that night”.

In one of Meow Meow’s previous shows the band wore only their underwear, so who knows what she has in store for her London

Dom Alessio @domalessio It might’ve only been 8 runs, but it was more than Bradman scored in his last innings. Congrats on a stellar career Ponting #AUSvsSA Mark Scott @abcmarkscott A moment. Ponting out for the last time in a test match.

accompaniments in this UK premiere.

It is clear that Meow is not afraid to take risks, including in her creation of the promo shot for the UK show, in which she wears a headdress of flames.

Meow says: “The front of dress was made entirely of matches and paper while the back of the dress was, well, non-existent. There were several fire extinguishers standing by in case there was an emergency during match lighting but luckily they were not needed.”

When asked if there would be any fiery stunts in Little Match Girl Meow Meow hinted that vocal pyrotechnics might be on the cards, but the rest of the stunts are to remain a big, fabulous surprise.

As Christmas nears and Christmas carols are being blasted on the radio I had to know what is Meow Meow’s favourite Christmas Carol is to sing.

“My favourite Christmas song would have to be one of the songs written especially for me for Little Match Girl by fellow Australian artist, songwriter Megan Washington.

“She’s a sensational singer songwriter. We’ve become friends over the years and are both quite visceral performers too.”

Little Match Girl promises to be a cocktail of glamour, comedy, tragedy, fire and sequins served straight up in a martini glass with two olives. Just how Meow Meow likes it.

Little Match Girl is showing at the Southbank Centre from Thursday 13 December – Sunday 30 December.

For more information and tickets see www.southbankcentre.co.uk.

‫@‏‬ABdeVilliers17 Now that was very sweet! Hard work paid off. Congrats to Ricky for an amazing career! Inspired me and so many others around the world!

Check out what we’re following this week on AustralianTimes.co.uk and follow us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

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Australians represent at the V & A Hollywood Costume Exhibition n

REVIEW | A must-see for film buffs, the V & A Hollywood Costume Exhibition even has a few surprises for the discerning Australian viewer.

By Haylee Slater The Victoria and Albert Museum, known locally as the V & A, is well worth a visit by the Australian tourist.

Located on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, it is opposite the Natural History Museum and conveniently close to the nearby Science Museum.

The V & A wears its age well, not only in its grand Victorian façade still bearing the scars of WWII, but also in its diverse and modern exhibitions.

The most current, the Hollywood Costume Exhibition, draws on this interplay – showcasing 100 years of cinema within three large galleries.

Entering the exhibition, viewers are met by a mammoth projector screen casting frames from some of the most recognizable moments in film’s varied history. While slightly overbearing, the screen quickly sets the tone for the collection.

A movie geek through-and-through, I am here to indulge my fascination with film, costume design, and to find as many Australian references as possible. In the opening gallery, findings are scarce. Like any good competition between our neighbouring countries, our Kiwi friends represent well with a larger than life opening act. Sadly, it is shoved in a dark corner.

A video narration from Director James Cameron and Actor Andy Serkis explains the tools employed

by Weta to perfect costume for films such as Avatar and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Andy Serkis’ motion capture suit is on display and the accompanying video gives geeks such as myself a fascinating look behind the scenes of filming.

Some of the costumes are displayed on headless mannequins accompanied by script excerpts from the films they made famous. Others are complete with LCD screens

hosting the face of the actor that wore it, giving some life to what otherwise could have felt like a window display.

The Australian Influence

Lost in wonder at costumes from Fight Club and The Addams Family, I almost miss the Australian contributions that have begun to spring up everywhere. The first is found in the Indiana Jones’ ensemble.

According to costume designer Deborah Nadoolman, Indy’s costume would not have been complete without his iconic felt hat, the design of which was customized from the Australian Herbert Johnson Fedora.

The next, a dress worn by Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age stands out in a sea of taffeta and velvet, its bright orange contrasted against a white haloed dress worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love.

The exhibition is shrouded in darkness, a complaint mentioned in all reviews I have read about the exhibition. The low lighting aims to protect the garments, and it does add to the atmosphere of the showing in some areas. I imagine Darth Vader’s suit would have much less impact in a brightly lit room, however in some other areas I can appreciate the frustration.

Take time to smell the roses

Each costume displayed is accompanied by an explanation from the director of the film it is featured in, the costume designer who made it or the actor who wore it. While at times the comments are quite generic there are some unique tidbits hiding in there.

Nicole Kidman says of her sequined costume worn as Satine in Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge that corsets are great for Victorian activities “like drinking tea,” but

high kicks? “Forget it.”

If you don’t take the time to look up as you wander through this exhibition, you may miss this costume. It is placed on a mannequin in the same pose Kidman holds while singing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” on her trapeze swing.

The costume worn by Australian Russell Crowe in Gladiator is harder to miss. Designed by Janty Yates, she explains that it was important to turn the usually flowing Roman tunic into something “manly” at the request of Ridley Scott.

Errol Flynn, the Australian actor known as much for his leading roles in films such as Robin Hood as his playboy lifestyle, starred in The Adventures of Don Juan in 1948.

His costume sets the tone for the leading men and is in good company amongst Dick Tracy’s yellow suit and Christopher Reeves’ Superman.

The magic of the Matrix

Kym Barrett, is an Australian costume designer born in Brisbane known for her work with the Cirque Du Soleil and on Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Her best work, in my opinion,

is on display at the V & A in Neo’s coat from The Matrix.

Unfortunately, this is one of the key costumes almost impossible to see from the front close up. It is possible to admire the fabric from the back provided you lean in closely.

This became a running theme throughout the exhibit. Costumes such as Jack’s ragged clothes and Rose’s high-collared suit and hat from the opening scenes of Titanic became lost in the background.

Others were so high up in the dark they could barely be seen.

Fashion lovers rejoice

For fashion lovers, visit for Marilyn Monroe’s signature white dress from Some Like It Hot, Holly Golightly’s black dress and necklace seen reflected in the window at Tiffanys from Breakfast at Tiffanys, the Yellow Dress and the Harry Winston “Isadora” necklace from How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days and ‘that’ green dress from Atonement.

Classic film buffs will rejoice in Dorothy’s dress and Ruby Slippers highlighting the early novelty of Technicolor in The Wizard of Oz and the size of Scarlet O’Hara’s green

velvet layered gown from Gone With The Wind will amaze. With Rocky squared up against Die Hard’s John McClane, Harry Potter’s first robes, and Eliza Doolittle’s tattered dress, every visitor is likely find a favourite costume on display.

For those interested in the history and process of costume design this exhibition is the one for you.

The exhibition will run from 20 October 2012–27 January 2013. Tickets are available from www.vam.ac.uk.

Sam Simmons: Master of the Absurd n

INTERVIEW | With his unique brand of absurdist comedy, it is likely that there will be a lot more to Sam Simmons UK stand-up show About The Weather than just the weather. Just don’t ask him what it all means…

By Alex Ivett Any Australian brought up on a diet of Triple J will be familiar, if not with the comedian Sam Simmons, then at least his ‘bit’ on drivetime radio called ‘Sh*tty Trivia’.

Emblematic of his style of comedy, ‘Sh*tty Trivia’ pushes the everyday and mundane into the realms of the nonsensical, making us laugh with the sheer illogicality and absurdity of the questions and answers, without really understanding what exactly it is we’re laughing at.

It’s typical, Sam tells Australian Times, of his tendency to “come at life slightly askew”, but also his desire to have his audience work just as hard as he does. “Nothing’s fun if its easy” he says, “even if you’re a confused audience member working for a joke.”

“Is it wrong to feed a cat a Vienetta?” is one such example of a Sh*tty Trivia question.

The witting participant often tries to pre-empt the answer with their own unpredictable response, but how can you stay one step ahead of something that has no rules or follows no

pattern?

“Not if you’re a millionaire” is apparently the correct answer.

Alternately hilarious and divisive, you may either love or hate Sam Simmons’ absurdist humour. You may think it’s ridiculous, or pure genius. Just don’t try to explain it.

Like I did.

I suggested to Sam that possibly his humour draws on the absurdist philosophical movement that posits that any human effort to find value and meaning in life will ultimately fail.

“No dude” says Simmons, “I’m just having a good time.”

Oh. “It’s weird though, people take comedy very seriously and get very angry if it’s not to their taste. I wish the same applied to performance art, people just sit and applaud absolute shit sometimes.”

Having been to a Simmons show before, Meanwhile, which received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival, I hesitated to say that aspects of the show wouldn’t be out of place in some avant-garde minimalist glass box nouveau rich art

gallery.

One such moment is when Simmons, having appeared to the audience in a spacesuit, started smashing Ol El Paso taco shells against his chest before throwing the box at the audience.

Performance art’s mad old uncle.

It is the joy of Simmons comedy that these moments of absolute absurdity have you both laughing hysterically, whilst also simultaneously questioning your own sanity in doing so. “What the hell am I laughing at” you ask as he lists his pinecone friends.

His new show, About the Weather, which Simmons will perform at Soho Theatre, may just earn the same reaction amongst UK audiences.

When asked what the show is about Simmons answers: “Small talk and an ability to communicate in an increasingly connected world...funny ay?”

So basically, no clues then?

The press release is no more helpful: “A man is standing next to another man, they have nothing in common and nothing to speak of, perhaps they can talk about the weather.”

Hmmm, I may just have to go find out for myself. I’ll just remember not to ask any more questions about absurdist philosophy, lest someone throws a taco shell box at me.

About the Weather is on at Soho Theatre from Monday 3 December to Saturday 5 January. For more information and tickets go to www.sohotheatre.com.au

travel

8 | Travel

4 - 10 December 2012

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Dust off that woollen winter scarf, winter is upon us. Well, let’s not go crazy. For many of us, winter in the UK is solely focussed on wearing as many layers as possible, and shivering through to the return of summer, while others will be lucky enough to escape to mainland Europe in search of that mythical golden orb known as the sun.

Whether you are sipping Sangria in Spain, parading through Paris or participating in other alliterative activities abroad, the bond between all travel experiences will be your basic need to eat. And cash, you’ll also need cash.

Eating while on holiday can be an enriching cultural experience in itself. However, in this world of mass tourism, finding local cuisine that is both genuine and reasonably priced becomes a tricky art to master. This is because for the hungry holidaymaker on a budget there is no greater adversary than the crafty maître d’. Armed with

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5 tricks of the trade to look out for when eating out abroad.

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a questionable specials menu and shielded by an all-too-convenient language barrier, this cunning creature is often spotted lurking in front of overpriced restaurants where they will lure the inexperienced traveller into uncomfortable situations. For the sake of avoiding such complications I have compiled a list, based on my own experiences, of five obstacles that you might encounter when it comes to eating out abroad.

Freedom isn’t Free

Assume nothing is free. When a waiter briskly delivers a basket of bread to your table without you ever having asked for it, don’t start complimenting the hospitality just yet - you will most likely find it tagged onto the end of your curiously high bill. Other not-socomplimentary items can include water, tap water, olive oil, parmesan cheese, ground pepper, napkins, peanuts and pretzels to name a few.

Basically, if you didn’t ask, don’t touch.

Location, Location

Obviously you don’t need to be reminded that dinning in any city centre is going to be more costly than eating in a less central location. What you might not know is that many restaurants in tourist-heavy areas will charge you more depending on where you sit within the establishment itself.

Most conniving is the waiter who will usher you to a seat in the more expensive area without so much as a mention of the steep increase in price. Sitting outdoors will cost you.

Sitting outdoors during a time when live music is being played will cost you even more.

Travel | 9

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The walk of shame

That awkward moment when there are no prices on the menu displayed outside which causes you to wander into the restaurant where you hope to find some answers. All too suddenly you find yourself swept up by an enthusiastic waiter, led to a table and seated before being presented with a delicious basket of bread (see point one). During the confusion you managed to get your hands on a menu where finally it is revealed the astonishingly high price per meal. At this point you have two options: either be bullied into breaking the budget or shed a bit of dignity by heading for the door.

Debt Perception

When searching for food in unfamiliar territory, we have always been told that a crowded restaurant is an indicator of both quality and reputation, but take another look around you. Do these people seem like locals? Can you see luggage wedged between their feet? Are they also struggling to pronounce anything on the menu? Sunburn? Bemused expressions? Portable bottle of hand sanitiser? If so, you have just been tricked, as have those around you, into thinking that this bustling,

vibrant hotspot is the talk of the town. It’s not. Welcome to the party.

KEEP CALM and KEEP THE CHANGE

After receiving a bill that naturally surpasses your pre-meal calculations (due to some bread-based confusion no doubt) it comes time to pay the ultimate price. Your money is collected and now you are simply waiting for the change. Yep, just waiting. You’re waiting, and waiting.

Fifteen minutes pass and you’re still waiting. You start thinking about your day, how it has been long and tiring and all you want to do is get back to your hostel for some much needed sleep and -WHERE IS THAT WAITER! Fed up with how long it is taking to receive your five euros change despite the fact that there are not but three occupied tables in the entire restaurant, you leave disgruntled and empty-handed.

Case in point: if you want to see the shrapnel you will have to out-wait the waiter who might hope to profit from your impatience.

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10 | Jobs & Money

4 - 10 December 2012

Chicken or the egg?

Leadership and ethics > SEPI ROSHAN

The Leveson Report on the conduct of Britain’s media has highlighted the role of ethics and self-regulation for those in positions of power. The Report, recommends independent, self-regulation of the press through a new regulatory body – free from industry leaders, government and politicians. This new body will enable the public to make complaints against members, so they can be investigated and resolved. The need for this Report, highlights the increasingly damaged perception the public has about those in positions of power and their ability to maintain public trust and confidence. Leaders hold privileged positions and are in most cases, rewarded for their efforts. But with privilege, comes responsibility.

Finally prompted by public outcry, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, appointed Lord Justice Leveson to review the conduct and ethics of the British media. This inquiry into Britain’s media hailed from legitimate concerns about press behaviour, such as hacking mobiles of murder victims and close relationships formed between the media and politicians. The Leveson Inquiry has been earmarked as the most concentrated look at the press Britain has ever seen. It spanned nearly 9 months and included hundreds of witness statements.

The debate now begins as to what, if any changes to the industry, will be made. The bigger questions, is whether the recommendations, if accepted, will make any difference to the behaviour of those in positions of leadership.

Most professionals accept that their conduct is subject to challenge – whether from their professional bodies, employees or customers.

The best leaders open themselves up to scrutiny rather than cocooning themselves with “yes” people.

With the privilege of being able to affect policies, determine strategies and make decisions, great leaders understand that they owe a duty of care to those their actions affect.

Most professions are regulated to ensure that members act in the public interest and impose enforceable standards and codes of ethics. For example, in Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants imposes and regulates

the conduct of accountants. Other professions such as medicine, law, engineering and education also mandate standards and codes of ethics. Generally, these models are based on contractual obligations the professions have made, to act in the public interest. The media is no different and there is a code of conduct already in place.

Yet despite some media professionals being accused of recklessly prioritising sensationalist stories, wreaking havoc on the lives of victims, and not upholding the public interest, there seems to have been limited action from industry leaders. No matter how many standards and codes are in place, without proper enforcement and oversight, there is little benefit.

Some professions self-regulate better than others. Those committed to rigorously maintaining their public standing subject members to reviews and disciplinary action.

Open and transparent processes are in place so the public has a basic understanding of protocols.

When those who stand outside the codes of conduct are dealt with appropriately, the public can feel satisfied that something is being done to protect them. The Institute of Chartered Accountants, for example, publishes details of conduct reviews and the consequences of any breach.

Disciplinary action imposed can include being banned from practicing and revocation of membership.

To implement self-regulation, you need commitment, robust systems and transparent processes for long term effectiveness. Any person, organisation or industry that holds a privileged place in society must also accept a duty of care. But the bottom line is that ethical conduct can be codified, but it cannot be forced into practice. Proper conduct is a function of good leadership.

A good leader does not need to rely on standards, codes and enforcement. Rather, they innately understand that leadership includes an implied duty of care to the public they serve.

Aussie slides on interest rate cut speculation Exchange rates GBP/AUD: EURO/AUD: USD/AUD: NZD/AUD:

1.534 1.244 0.958 0.786

08:00 GMT, 3 December 2012

By Trevor Brewer THE Australian Dollar started last week trading slightly higher compared to close of markets on Friday. This was due to the anticipation of a meeting held by European leaders where they were expected to discuss a possible bailout package for Greece. The Aussie

Dollar was trading at 1.5322 to the British Pound and 0.9558 to the US Dollar.

Tuesday saw the Aussie Dollar trade near a two month high after equities rebounded globally on the speculation that the US will avoid the so-called fiscal cliff, which helped boost demand for higher-yielding assets.

But the Australian currency then declined against most of its major peers going into the end of the week amid speculation that the RBA would lower interest rates this week to shield the economy from a slowdown in mining.

The Australian Dollar finished the week trading at 1.537 to the British Pound and 0.9591 to the US Dollar.

The slide continued into the new week after data showed the nation’s retails sales unexpectedly stagnated, further fanning the interest rate cut speculation.

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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Sport | 11

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No fairytale finish for an Aussie great ‘Tahs only viable option for IF Ricky Ponting had any lingering doubts about whether he chose the right time to retire, his two innings in Australia’s defeat in Perth would have put them well and truly to bed.

As much as Ponting wanted a fairytale finish to his glittering Test career, it became clearly evident he had already extracted every ounce of talent from his ageing body.

At 37 years and 350 days of age, Ponting was no longer the force he once was.

After making just four in the first innings of the third Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground, Ponting could only muster eight in his second dig before edging spinner Robin Peterson to Jacques Kallis at first slip.

Peterson, playing his first Test since early 2008, celebrated as if he’d won the World Cup. Kallis was more subdued, knowing all too well he’d just played a role in finishing one of the greatest careers

of all time.

Ponting was given a guard of honour by South Africa’s players when he made his way to the crease with Australia in early trouble at 2-81, chasing 632 for victory.

And the good-will continued from there.

Towering paceman Morne Morkel misfielded a Ponting drive to gift the batsman a boundary.

And when Ponting was dismissed, he received congratulatory handshakes from most of South Africa’s squad.

As he walked off the Test arena for the final time, Ponting raised his bat and helmet high in the air to acknowledge the crowd on hand.

Australia were eventually bowled out for 322, giving South Africa an emphatic 309-run win with more than a day to spare, after they belted 569 in their match-winning second dig.

Former Test opener Justin Langer,

who retired in 2007, said Ponting would have been disappointed to be dismissed at the hands of a spinner on the fast and bouncy WACA deck.

But Langer said his former skipper could now let his guard down and reflect on a magnificent career that netted him 13,378 Test runs at an average of 51.85.

“I know it’s been quite emotional for him this week but I sense now it would be a great relief for him,” Langer told Channel 9.

“I get the sense that relief will be one of his strongest emotions.”

In the series against South Africa, Ponting scored just 32 runs at an average of 6.4.

It wasn’t the fairytale end he was after, but at least it was a fairytale career for a man widely regarded to be the best batsman since Sir Donald Bradman.

By Justin Chadwick and Ben Horne with AAP

Emerton leads fresh faced Socceroos Continued from p12...

The 33-year-old Sydney FC midfielder has undergone off-season ankle surgery and battled to regain form since his last match in the green and gold in Australia’s 4-2 win over Saudi Arabia in February.

“Without doubt I’m looking to impress in Hong Kong,” Emerton told AAP. “It’s been a long time since I played for the national team.

“So it’s great to be involved once again and I see it as a great opportunity to come here and impress and show Holger that I’ve still got something to offer.”

Apart from Archie Thompson (42 caps) and Matt McKay (29) the 17 others in Osieck’s squad have a combined total of just 46 caps between them, with eight in line to make their international debut.

With the tournament not on FIFA sanctioned dates many overseesbased players were unavailable so Osieck plundered the A-League and is using the tournament to help

develop the young players and trial them under the pressures of international competition.

And Emerton feels there’s no better way to make an impression on the coach than by getting results.

“It’s very important to win these games and qualify,” he said.

“Obviously the Socceroos are in a transition phase at the moment so this is a great opportunity for the young players to stake their claim to be part of the Socceroos in the future and if we qualify they’ll just be giving themselves another great opportunity to do that again.

“Holger will be able to see how each of them copes at international level and I’m sure a few of them will impress and feature in the next World Cup qualifiers.”

The Socceroos were set to kick off their campaign against Hong Kong on Monday as Australian Times went to print. Their next match is against North Korea likely their toughest opponents - Guam and Taiwan in a gruelling

Socceroo Brett Emerton.

(AAP Image/ Patrick Hamilton)

schedule of four games over seven days.

Should they finish first in the group, Australia will join South Korea, Japan and China in next year’s showpiece.

By Angela Habashy

Taggers celebrate the festive season at Phibbers

Tag Rugby players in the capital enjoying the Try Tag Rugby Christmas party.

Last Friday’s Try Tag Rugby Christmas party was a big success, with over 150 Tag Rugby players in attendance at Phibbers pub to welcome the start to the festive season.

Try Tag Rugby’s 4th Christmas party was also the most attended to date, with Tag Rugby players from all corners of the capital coming together, being merry and making a bunch of new mates in the process. Tag Rugby’s social side made a strong appearance with close to 100 players still partying away until closing time.

Back on the field, there are only four more finals left on the 2012 Tag Rugby calendar before all Tag Rugby in the capital takes a break for the rest of the year.

The Borough final will see the only two undefeated teams - Trinity Church Square Warriors and Tagtical Heroes battle it out for the Late Autumn season title. With their last match five weeks ago ending in an 11 all draw, this final promises to be a cracker.

On Tuesday, the Shoreditch final will be contested between Phibbers and Shore Things!

Phibbers have been dominating this competition but Shore Things! playing their first season as a team won’t let them get away with a title easily.

On Wednesday, the pace of ChrisCross comes up against the French flair of Garlic Breed on Rotherhithe’s beautiful 3G surface, whilst on Thursday, Speight’s will take on Flow to see who will be crowned the champions over at Bermondsey.

In other news, the Great Britain and Ireland World Cup squads have all landed safely in Auckland and will have their first World Cup pool matches on Thursday. Stay tuned as next weeks article will feature all the scores and updates of the 2012 Tag Rugby World Cup. Registrations for the Winter season commencing the week of 14 January are now open. Winter leagues will be taking place at Barnes, Bermondsey, Borough, Rotherhithe, Tooting Bec and White City. New team and individual registrations are welcome.

If you would like to find out more about Try Tag Rugby, go to www. trytagrugby.com or email info@ trytagrugby.com.

off-contract Israel Folau

Israel Folau is set to join the Waratahs. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)

Continued from p12... to Twitter late on Sunday.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinions! But I’ll speak the truth when it’s my time,” Folau tweeted.

Speculation was rife ahead of the announcement that the former Kangaroos centre will commit to a one-year deal, reportedly in the hope of signing a more lucrative contract at the end of next season when salary cap issues are sorted out.

Along with the Rebels, the `Tahs are the only Australian franchises to have a spot to fill on their 30-man roster for next season.

But the Rebels, who were reportedly extremely close to signing Folau in 2010 before he moved to the AFL, on Monday shut the door on the possibility of recruiting the former Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos centre.

“Israel is a rare talent and would be a great asset for rugby,” said Hill.

“But I can’t see how any Super Rugby clubs, including the Rebels, could afford him with the late timing and the salary caps that have been enforced.”

That left the ‘Tahs as the only viable option for the off-contract Folau, who struggled badly in AFL and left GWS admitting “the passion wasn’t there.”

A $4.5 million salary cap for each of Australia’s five Super Rugby clubs has been introduced for the first time and takes effect from the start of next year as the Australian Rugby Union attempts to rein in

player salaries.

Finding a spot for Folau in a Waratahs backline already flush with Wallabies outside backs will create a selection headache for new coach Michael Cheika.

It seems as though that is a genuine dilemma, with chief executive Jason Allen and Folau’s manager Isaac Moses believed to have overcome the financial predicament.

The Waratahs are likely to have a minimal amount left in their kitty for next season to offer Folau, who was paid $1.5 million per season at GWS. The Eels drew up a deal for Folau reportedly worth $3 million over four years.

Interestingly, the NRL’s soonto-be increased salary cap of around $5.2 million for 25 players is significantly more than Super Rugby’s fiscal limitations.

But if Folau is to remain in Sydney, take on the challenge of a third football code and be remunerated handsomely, Waratahs fans can expect an overhaul of their squad at the end of 2013 to accommodate marquee man Folau.

A winger or centre in rugby league, Folau would likely slot into the outside backs where the `Tahs already boast the likes of Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Berrick Barnes, Rob Horne and Lachie Turner while impressive youngsters Bernard Foley and Tom Kingston as well as stalwart Tom Carter also complicate selection.

By Will Knight

Sheens will guide Kangaroos at WC IM SHEENS has been given the task of reclaiming the Rugby League World Cup held by New Zealand after being reappointed for a fifth term as Kangaroos coach.

Yet to settle his NRL future with Wests Tigers after being sacked as their head coach and replaced by Mick Potter, veteran Sheens will also have a new part-time role assisting the national high performance program.

Sheens’ record at the helm of the Kangaroos is strong, with only one loss in 18 Tests, and he may get the chance to avenge that defeat to the

Kiwis in the 2010 Four Nations final when his men contest the World Cup in the United Kingdom late next year.

“The Kangaroos have a proud history in the World Cup, winning nine of the 13 tournaments ever contested, so bringing the 2013 trophy home from the UK is my key focus,” Sheens said.

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AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

FESTIVE SPIRIT Taggers unite for a Christmas celebration P11

I’M NO CHEAT: TRIGG n

Banned Adelaide Crows chief Steven Trigg says he’s not an AFL cheat and blames public and time pressures for striking an illegal deal with Kurt Tippett.

By Steve Larkin STEVEN TRIGG says he feels “sick in the guts” about the oncesecret deal with Tippett which led to him being suspended for six months from his position as Adelaide’s chief executive.

The AFL commission banned Tippett for the initial 11 games of next year’s premiership season after finding his agreement with the Crows broke the league’s salary cap and draft rules.

The AFL fined the Crows $300,000 and imposed draft restrictions on the club next year, with their football operations manager Phil Harper also suspended for two months for his role in the Tippett affair.

Trigg denied he cheated the AFL but conceded he was “stretching the boundaries” of the league’s laws when re-signing Tippett in 2009.

“I would very, very strongly deny cheating,” Trigg told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Monday.

“Cheating is an unfair advantage, and I know there will be a school of thought that just by getting the (Tippett’s) signature, you had an unfair advantage.

“You need to cop that.

“But in terms of did we pay more than we were supposed to in terms of the salary cap? No. “Did we really get an advantage in terms of that trade clause in the end? No. “The tabloids will go down a path of using that word (cheat).

“I just know, I need to look myself in the mirror forever on this ... (I have a) quite really clear conscience.”

The Adelaide board on Saturday voted that despite the damage caused, Trigg and Harper would return to their roles once serving their suspensions from 1 January next year.

“The text book would say in this situation, you step down, you step away, I know that,” Trigg said.

“It is very unusual in these

Brett Emerton determined to prove his worth HAVING only donned a Socceroos jersey once this year, stalwart Brett Emerton is determined to use his selection for this week’s East Asian Cup qualifiers to prove he still has a lot to offer the national team.

With 92 caps under his belt second only to Mark Schwarzer as Australia’s most capped player - Emerton is by far the most experienced player in coach Holger Osieck’s 20-man squad of predominantly fresh faces.

Chosen as captain, he will use his vast experience to lead and assist the many youngsters endeavouring to stake claims to a Socceroos future during the five-team tournament in Hong Kong.

But Emerton is honest enough to admit he also has something to prove and will be trying hard to make sure he remains on coach Holger Osieck’s radar. ...continued on p11

STUMPS FOR A LEGEND

The fairytale innings was not to be for our best since Bradman | P11 THAT’S OVER: Ricky Ponting acknowledges the crowd after being dismissed for 8 runs in his final Test innings (AAP Image/Theron Kirkman) circumstances to dig in - and much less to have a board back you as the right person to keep going.”

Of the illegal deal, Trigg said immense public and time pressures to re-sign Tippett, who walked out on the Crows at the end of the 2012

and nominated for the 11 December preseason draft, were factors.

“There were concerns about aspects of it, not necessarily essence of it,” he said.

“It was a deal that was produced under pressure and under real time

pressure as well.

Trigg said his credibility and trust within the AFL industry suffered “a little ding” from the Tippett saga but added he was “up for the fight” of restoring his reputation.

Waratahs set for Folau signing MELBOURNE REBELS coach Damien Hill says he can’t fathom how Super Rugby rivals NSW Waratahs can fit code-hopper Israel Folau under the newly introduced salary cap.

As Australian Times went to press, the 23-year-old was set to announce in a Tuesday morning press conference that he has signed a one-year deal with the Waratahs.

Rugby union emerged as the next stop for Folau after he turned down an offer to return to rugby league in the NRL with Parramatta last week, having quit his multi-million dollar AFL deal with Greater Western Sydney last month.

Labelled a cash-hungry mercenary in some quarters after walking away from protracted talks with Parramatta, Folau took ...continued on p11