Australian Times weekly newspaper | 3 January 2013

3 - 7 January 2013 – Issue: 444

THE YEAR IN REVIEW ENTERTAINMENT P5

41564

100,000 MONEY TRANSFERS EACH YEAR - BEST RATES! 0808 141 2314

TAX, FINANCIAL AND MIGRATION EXPERTS: Money Transfers, Tax Refunds, Visas, Limited Companies & Accounting, UK Bank Accounts, CV & Job Assistance, Travel Clinic, Shipping, Legal and Umbrella Services

www.1stcontact.com/mast2

Shooting, and drowning mar New Year’s Eve

HAPPY NEW YEAR Sydney fireworks spectacular | P2

HOME LOANS FOR BACK HOME. To explore the possibilities contact our London office on 020 7710 3993 or visit www.commbankuk.co.uk/mortgages

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Stay connected www.commbankuk.co.uk/mortgages Call 020 7710 3993

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.

Minimum size 25mm INT0008_HomeLoan_40x200_R3.indd 1

6/08/12 5:08 PM

A MAN shot dead in South Australia, a woman drowned near Perth, a car park brawl death in the West Australian town of Shark Bay and an alleged rape in Hobart have marred New Year celebrations across the nation.

Despite the violent incidents, police were happy with the behaviour of revellers, saying the majority of people were well behaved.

An estimated 1.6 million people flocked to Sydney’s harbour foreshore and 150,000 people packed into Melbourne’s CBD to watch the fireworks.

This was down from an anticipated 550,000 due to late thunderstorms that threatened celebrations. Revellers in Federation Square were treated to a fireworks show that used the tops of Melbourne skyscrapers to send the display up over the rain soaked crowds.

In Sydney, 97 people will face a range of charges including drug supply and possession, assault, affray, assaulting police and malicious damage.

That was almost double the number arrested in Sydney last ...continued on p3

2 | News

3 - 7 January 2013

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, Shannon Loves, Charlie Inglefield 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

WEBSITE:

The paper used to print this publication has been sourced from sustainable forests (farmed trees). Please reduce waste by recycling your copy or pass it on others.

DISCLAIMER The printed opinions of advertisers and writers are theirs and not necessarily shared by Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Unless otherwise stated, copyright of all original materials is held by Blue Sky Publications Ltd.

WITH Australia one of the first countries around the world to welcome in the New Year, all eyes were on Sydney as it set off its $6.6 million fireworks spectacular. Pop princess Kylie Minogue, the event’s creative ambassador who chose the theme of Embrace for the celebrations, started the midnight show with the press of a button. An estimated 1.6 million people crowded the harbour foreshore, as a giant set of red lips lit up on the Harbour Bridge.

They were replaced with a butterfly as the fireworks lit up the sky. The display included 100,000 individual pyrotechnic creations, including brand new koala, octopus and hand images up in lights.

OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSORS OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS:

Best of Your Say

ST PATRICKS DAY Included: • Return coach from London • City centre hostel accommodation • Breakfast • Pub crawl • City walking tour • Guinness storehouse tour • St Patricks Day parade • Gift bag

On: Posh English men and their Aussie counterparts

£249 MARCH 15-18

RUNNING OF THE BULLS LA TOMATINA Included:

• Camping accommodation • Pickup upon arrival in Pamplona • Regular shuttles to centre of Pamplona • Bull run • Gift bag

JULY 5-8

£139

NEW YEAR SALE

Included:

FROM

£119

• 4 star hotel accommodation • Breakfast • City walking tour • Bus transfers to festival • Tomato fight • Gift bag

AUGUST 27-29 10% off when entering the discount code ‘austimes’ (valid until 10/01/13)

www.gogombo.com info@gogombo.com

From the article I would assume that English men are more secure in who they are and are willing to be themselves, whereas Australian men are insecure about their masculinity and feel they have to adhere to some outdated standard rather than be authentic and express themselves.

Robert

On: Redback Tavern in London closed down

Where in the world can you walk into a bar in your boardies and thongs at 2 in the morning blind drunk and listen to a band pumping out tunes.

of working in the UK and it’s been great for the two countries’ relations.

The people affected by this are probably young and poorly paid but they are still contributing – it is not the same as being unemployed and/or a burden on the welfare system!

Aussie Gal

On: Why are the Poms so unhappy?

I don’t mind it over here in Pomgolia.

Sure the food is ordinary…the weather is bad…the people are miserable. But if you use it as a base to explore Europe and spend your time here associating with all the other Aussies/Kiwis/Saffas that are over its not so bad really.

Davo

There’s a simple retort to your grievances: if you don’t like it, leave.

Paul

Stephen

On: Australians could be told to earn £31K or leave the UK

On: Australian Olympic gold medal drought continues in London

Aussies have such a long history

?

What’s your view

Oh well, there’s always cricket. Oh,

hang on…the Poms are stuffing you at that as well.

Charlie

On: Australian things I can’t live without

Big prawns at a reasonable price!

Mick

1. Lemon, lime and bitters 2. Dips other than hummus 3. Aussie pies Steph

On: Good on ya, Julia: from the UK with love

Thank you Julia Gillard for having the guts, incredible guts, the put into words the feelings of so very many women in Australia. The criticism of her will get even more personal and sexist as a result, but millions of people, not just women, the world over applaud her for nailing the extreme hypocrisy that the deeply entrenched misogyny of so many Aussie men operate on.

Skippy

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

News | 3

AustralianTimes.co.uk

New Year, new city

By Alex Ivett HAPPY New Year Australian Times readers. As I start this year for the first time as Editor for a newspaper hoping to provide a voice for the Australian expat community in the UK, it seemed to be a good time to share my own story.

How do I sum up my 2012? It was, as someone aptly warned me about the London experience, a time of “intense highs, and extreme lows”.

A time that has had more unique and unrivaled moments, more drastic changes and more periods of sadness, than possibly any other year of my life.

I started the year living in Canberra as a lawyer. I ended it in London, editing and writing for this newspaper Australian Times. If there are any words that can sum up the wholly unexpected and unusual opportunities that this city, and the UK experience, can offer – it is that.

It took some time to first take the step to move here. To leave a safe, steady and satisfying job, a comforting routine and a great group of friends. Yet, years of relative inactivity and familiarity eventually forced me off the roundabout. My 2012 new year’s resolution – be somewhere, anywhere, else this time next year. My 2013 resolution:

NYE ‘highlight of my life’ says ambassador Kylie Minogue Continued from p1...

year but police said they were happy with the outcome.

At the major public celebrations in Adelaide and South Australian regional centres, police made 121 arrests for offensive behaviour.

The number includes the arrest of a 17-year-old who is expected to be charged with murder, following the shooting death of an 18-year-old at about 7.40pm (CDT).

South Australian police said most revellers partied “safely and lawfully”.

In WA, a 31-year-old man in Shark Bay has been charged with grievous bodily harm after a 28-year-old man died after allegedly being punched in a car park brawl.

In the state’s south, the body of a woman was found floating in a weir east of Perth.

There were seven stabbings in Brisbane and more than 30 drug overdoses across Victoria, including a 15-year-old boy.

Police arrested 62 people on 89 charges in Brisbane and 184 people on 218 charges on the Gold Coast.

Victorian police arrested 356 people across the state, but Deputy Commissioner Tim Cartwright said it was an improvement on the 400 arrests of drunk people in 2010.

In Tasmania, a man has been charged in connection with an alleged rape close to the centre of Hobart’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Police have interviewed and charged a 35-year-old man following a complaint from a 26-year-old woman about the alleged incident near Tasmania’s Parliament House.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore praised organisers, clean-up crews and the city’s residents for a “magic” New Year’s Eve celebration on the harbour.

“Sydney is really special and it is the New Year’s Eve capital of the

world, we just all know that,” Ms Moore said on Tuesday morning, adding that given the numbers of people out to celebrate it was amazing that police had charged only 97 people across Sydney.

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue said Sydney’s celebration to welcome in 2013 was a highlight of her life.

The Sydney fireworks show paid homage to the diminutive singer, whose hit tunes from her 25 years in show business featured in the soundtrack.

Her red lips in lights on the Sydney Harbour Bridge puckered up at midnight to deliver a kiss to welcome in the new year.

“The atmosphere was electric and it was a night I will never forget,” Minogue said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Sydney has the reputation as the New Year’s Eve capital of the world and it certainly lived up to that promise last night.”

The sky erupted with a $6.6 million pyrotechnics display, for an estimated 1.6 million people crowded the Sydney harbour shoreline. It is a crowd larger than the gatherings in Paris, London, Berlin and New York, said the City of Sydney.

Mrs Macquaries Chair reached its capacity of 17,000 several hours before sunset. Some had reportedly queued for 23 hours.

Minogue said it was “the best feeling in the world to be on the world’s greatest harbour” surrounded by family, friends and spectators gathered on the foreshore.

“My New Year resolution is to spend more time with my family and loved ones, and more time in Australia,” she said.

Sydney New Years Eve producer Aneurin Coffey said he spoke to Minogue last night and she said she was “absolutely over the moon, one of the best experiences of her life.”- AAP

complete Tough Mudder. 2012’s seems slightly easier in comparison.

Not that London is a particularly brave choice. It’s not Bangladesh, as one good friend has boldly managed.

I wasn’t exactly treading new ground when I followed the wellworn path across to the UK back in April. Like every Aussie who walks through Heathrow arrivals hall, I had a ready network of friends of friends, family and connections to make the transition easier.

My brother’s couch (uncomfortably sawn in half to get it through the front door and left that way – possibly to discourage long term visitors) eventually turned into a share house with an ex-colleague and yet more Aussies. Friends of friends welcomed me warmly, always inviting me to share the

delights and sights of this amazing city on the briefest of introductions.

Even a recruiter, who wasn’t able to help me on the job front, at least set me up on a friend date, where coffee turned into a great connection.

My initial unemployment only forced me to do the one thing I had always wanted to do, but never thought possible. Write. Oh, and travel. Lots of travel. Together, and with a lucky break, it led me here.

An opportunity available because, well, London is like that. A melting pot of new social experiences, cultural options, and halfway decent coffee, provided someone shows you to an Aussie-run cafe.

On the other hand, London can be a bitch. When you’ve met a thousand new faces, but you feel like you don’t really know anyone. When it’s

rained for three days straight, and you long for the harsh dry sunlight of Australia. When you realize that familiarity and routine is not necessarily a bad thing when the alternative is uncertainty and regret at lost time with loved ones back home.

The intense highs, and extreme lows. All you can do is keep going, and think – it’s London. Something unexpected is just around the corner.

And who knows where it might lead this time.

I know I’m looking forward to sharing the journey with you in 2013.

Get More Opinion

AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

4 | UK Life

3 - 7 January 2013

Thoughts on a London Year

By Alex Bruce-Smith

LAST week marked a year to the day that I packed my backpack and moved to London. A year to the day when my best friend met me at Heathrow airport with an Oyster card in hand and said “Here. You’ll get used to it.”

What initially struck me as odd and unusual is now part of the everyday.

What once stood out has now blended into the background, propped up somewhere between my lost keys and last night’s wineglass. I thought I would take the opportunity of the New Year to reflect on the oddities that make London and Londoners unique.

On the Media

The Sun’s Page 3 Girls are so much more than an inch of bad makeup and a sizable rack. They have brains, too - you can see this for yourself in the little quote box, where the naked

lady comments on the current issues in the media and backs it up with her favourite Greek Philosopher, or perhaps a Shakespearean quote. Beauty and brains - how marvellous!

Everyone is disturbingly worried about being portrayed as ‘Middle Class Yuppies’. Particularly the Middle Class Yuppies.

The Greeks are generally blamed for everything economic-wise.

Sometimes we tire of this, and move on to the Italians, the Polish, or once in a while the Germans. Consequently, British politicians are blamed for absolutely everything 100% of the time, so I suppose this is just in keeping.

News of the World might be dead and gone, but it still gets a lot of press.

Usually through another paper reporting on updates from the Levenson enquiry.

On Transport

Cockfosters is an amusing name doubly so when it is announced over the loudspeaker on the Tube. The day you stop giggling at it is a sad day indeed.

Anything that is not Heathrow airport is simply too far away to be bothered with. In fact, Heathrow is too far away. Maybe you should stay home this year instead.

Londoners have mastered the curious

art of polite rudeness. That is to say, they will subtly elbow you onto the tracks to get on the tube first, but will never catch your eye and will pretend they are unaware of their actions. Master this art, and you will go far, my friend. At the very least, you will probably get a seat.

On Fashion

For the love of all that is holy, STAY AWAY from the Australian bars. Walkabout, I’m looking at you.

Australians in London - if you want to party at Walkabout every weekend (or even worse, work there) - why move to London in the first place? I hear Manchester’s a lot cheaper, and the girls a lot easier.

Everything you ever wanted in Chanel, you can find in Zara. With the small exception of the Chanel label, of course.

On Tourist Attractions

Fashion is quick. Very quick. Time taken from runway to street style (with a quick stop at the high street) is about three weeks. London ladies are almost too fashionable, so to be completely daring, you need to be completely drastic. With dip-dye becoming so very blase, the next step is to shave half your head - but for God’s sake, woman, be quick about it!

Topshop does not have the same status as back home. In Australia, we worship at the feet of Topshop. In London, it is the slightly quirkier cousin of Zara, H&M and New Look.

A truly stylish lady will make anything from Primark look freaking fabulous.

This is no easy feat, and takes courage, skill and determination.

On Drinking

A pub is a perfectly acceptable place to meet your friend at 11am on a Tuesday morning. If you are unsure about getting sloshed, never fear - you can have a shandy.

A pint of bitter is never full enough. It can always be topped up.

A Bloody Mary is for Sunday mornings, a Pimms is for a warm, sunny day, and Mulled Cider is for the prolonged lead-up to Christmas. If you wish to have any of these drinks at another time, be prepared: the quality will be less and your search may be long.

On Markets

London is famous for its markets. Let me break down three of the big’ens for you: Camden: touristy, but fun. Not an every weekend experience, but once in a while.

Every single person who visits London will want to be taken there. Learn your way around and impress your visitor ever more. You will find tourists, punks, tourists, ravers, hipsters, arty-types, and some more tourists.

Notting Hill: open Saturdays and Sundays. The cheap shirts are tiring, the vintage cameras are fascinating, and there’s pretty much everything in between. Reach the end of Portobello Road and be rewarded with intoxicating foodie smells. The area, of course, is fascinating - so are the shops.

Bourough: curiously, not open on Sundays. Expensive, but mouthwatering.

On Australians

There’s a lot of us here. So many, we have our own publications, our own bars, and are spoilt for choice for Australia Day parties. I myself have, by utter chance, ran into three friends from university on separate occasions that I could have sworn were nestled back home on the other side of the world.

Meeting another Australian is like meeting a long lost friend from primary school. That silly grin, the thrill of connection the overexcited way you say “OH! You’re from [insert small town from a different state]? Nope, I’ve never heard of it.” Low and behold if you meet a person from the same city. You’re from Sydney too? We should, like, totally be best mates.

The Tower of London is worth a visit.

The London Eye is not.

A Boris Bike, at midnight, on a summer’s eve with a couple drinks and a couple mates is the best way to see London, in my opinion. All the streets belong to you, and just for a moment, so does London.

A West End show is a must see, and it doesn’t matter what one. The theatre of going to the theatre, of being thoroughly entertained, of huge carpeted staircases and the murmur at the intermission of a hundred people talking joyously about the same thing, of feeling glamorous for one night only - there’s nothing like it. A West End show in London is the pinnacle of unpretentious, fun theatre.

On British Terminology

Shandy - A drink consisting of half bitter or lager and half lemonade. For those who wish to drink without getting drunk.

The High Street - A term pertaining to a mythological place where all chain clothing stores are. Oxford St and High Street Kensington both fall into “The High Street”. In London, this is usually where these stores are located, so the terminology makes sense. However, it doesn’t matter where you actually bought that Topshop top - be it online, in store, or a friend - it’s a ‘High Street’ piece of clothing.

Cockney Slang - a language reserved for the less sane breed of Londoner. For example: ‘Apples and Pears’ means ‘stairs’. See what I mean? Total madness.

Loo - Bathroom/Toilet/Lavatory. A while back I caught myself saying it.

Ditto Telly - otherwise known as the TV, Television, or idiot box (thank you, Churchill).

On the Weather

Sunshine is rare, rain is not. It is almost impossible not to talk about the weather, because quite frankly, it is a big deal.

Days of endless sunshine followed by days of endless night is similar to a drug high and subsequent crash. One makes you want to do, see, be everything, and other makes you want to crawl under your blankets with a nice cup of tea and the box set of Downton Abbey.

A sunny day in London is like nothing else in the world.

Entertainment | 5

AustralianTimes.co.uk

2012 A YEAR IN REVIEW 2012 WAS, for many Australians living in the UK, dominated by one thing – the London Olympics. Combined with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, as an adopted London resident, it was definitely a year to remember. Dominating the Australian media back home was Julia Gillard surviving a leadership challenge from Kevin Rudd and taking Tony Abbott

to task for a perceived misogynistic attitude, as well as her government’s passing of a number of key legislation, including the mining tax and a carbon price. Australia’s economy remained at the forefront of media attention, performing well in the developed world as other nations suffered the effects of the

GFC. Australia’s place in the world also drew interest, with Australia winning a UN Security Council seat and the release of the Asian Century White Paper which made it clear Australia’s future lies in Asia. Julian Assange once again made headlines, holing up in Ecuador’s London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden. Gina Rinehart seemingly never left the front page, with her bitter family squabble playing out in Australian courts, and her comments that most Australians just needed to work harder.

And finally, the Chamberlains were vindicated thirty-two years, four inquests and one royal commission after Lindy Chamberlain saw a dingo take her baby in a Northern Territory camping ground.

Back in the UK on AustralianTimes.co.uk, the top stories attracting your interest focussed on the Olympics, and the royal hoax call scandal.

The Top 10 stories viewed on AustralianTimes.co.uk for 2012 Olympic World Record attempt for Australians in London

In the lead up to the Olympics, London-based Aussies were invited to participate in a Guinness World Record attempt for most people wearing the same full team kit. Expecting about 1000 supporters, Windmill Pub was instead inundated with more than 3000, many of whom lined up from 2pm to take part. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough team kits for everyone to take part, but Aussies helped smash the previous record with 935 posing in their team kit in the shape of a giant “G’Day”.

The death of the nurse who received the royal hoax prank call

The tragic death of the nurse at the London hospital who had transferred a prank call from two Australian DJs dominated headlines both in the UK and back home. The DJ’s, pretending to be Prince Charles and the Queen, called the hospital and were told private details of the Duchess of Cambridge’s condition whilst in the hospital suffering morning sickness.

The closing of Redback Tavern in London It seems there are many upset Aussie punters in London left bereft from the closing of Redback Tavern from the number of you who clicked on this story. Ongoing licensing issues forced the closure of this Antipodean live music venue and infamous drinking hole, despite a petition to save it.

PM confirms 2012 apocalypse in spoof video Julia Gillard’s spoof video confirming the end of the world was on its way earned this year’s number four spot. Her warnings of

“flesh eating zombies” and “demonic hell beasts” were counter to NASA reassurances to the public that there was no truth to apocalypse predictions.

Seeing as we’re all around to read this New Year’s edition, it seems NASA was right after all.

were acquired by Ward Thomas Removals, who intended to reunite Aussies with their belongings.

Australians could be told to earn £31K or leave the UK

A plan unveiled by UK Immigration Minister Damian Green in February that suggested Australians earn £31K or leave Britain after five years worried many Australian Times readers.

Australia’s solar eclipse

Despite being across the other side of the world, it seems many are still longing for a slice of home. Record numbers tuned into our live stream of the solar eclipse experienced in Tropical North Queensland in November.

Woman’s Day ignores ‘media blackout’ on Will & Kate honeymoon pictures Possibly readers desperate for their own glimpse of the honeymoon pictures, this story ranked sixth. Woman’s Day ran exclusive honeymoon pictures in their magazine despite a request from Clarence House for media to respect their privacy. The magazine reportedly paid $1 million for the images.

The “Aussie man and van sham”

YouTube video of racist abuse captures Australia’s darker side

A report on the YouTube video of an abusive display of violent threats and racism towards a young French woman sparked an outcry, globally and on our website. The video lead many to express their disgust at the behaviour, and ask, not for the first time, do we have a problem with racism in Australia?

‘Ranga’ added to new edition of Australian Oxford Dictionary

‘Ranga’ – a colloquial term for a person with red hair – is set to be included in the latest editions of the Oxford Australia Dictionary. Our look at the unique history of the word in Australia earned it tenth place in our top 10 list, as well as a record 1.6k Facebook shares.

When Aussie Group, formerly Aussie Man & Van, went into receivership it left many Aussie expats out of pocket and with their goods unable to be shipped back to Australia. The brands and assets of Aussie Group

Also capturing your interest »» Our poll of the best Aussie Xmas songs – it seems Paul Kelly’s ‘How to Make Gravy’ comes out on top. »» New engine could mean 4 hour flights from UK to Australia »» ‘Dumb Ways to Die’ cutesy train safety clip goes viral »» Best Aussie coffee shops in London »» Where to watch Guy Fawkes fireworks »» Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide in Kia Oval AFL match »» UK arrival guide All available on our website Australiantimes.co.uk

What’s On 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 Pam Ann 28-29 March @ Hammersmith Apollo Tame Impala 25 June @ Hammersmith Apollo

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

See what we are following this week on

#kimye Trends on news that Kim Kardashian is pregnant Andrew Kaczynski @BuzzFeedAndrew Thankfully, the Kardashian child has come to save us all from the fiscal cliff.

Kris Jenner @KrisJenner Oh BABY BABY BABY!!

Rebecca Brown @rebeccalbrown3 What if Tswift finally gets her revenge and comes in like “Yo I’m really happy for you but Beyonce had the best celeb baby of ALL TIME” KyleEditor @KyleEditor i just unfollowed someone who congratulated #kimye jessicrashing waves @spiffynipples69 kim kardashian and kanye west at a parent teacher conference. imagine that Check out what we’re following this week on AustralianTimes.co.uk and follow us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

6 | Jobs & Money

3 - 7 January 2013

New year, new you n

Dollar Review

Aussie Dollar victim of Fiscal Cliff saga

With the new year comes new resolutions.

Here’s how to make sure you make

By Jesse Crooks commitments you can keep in 2013.

THE Australian Dollar, like most

> SEPI ROSHAN

QUICK! List all the things you wanted to do in 2012. Now think.

How many of them did you do?

The new year is often a time for reflection. We sit back and think about how quickly the last 12 months whizzed by. This is the time all those forgotten goals from January 2012 emerge from the subconscious.

Whether you call them New Year’s resolutions, goals or milestones; as we welcome the new year, we are all encouraged to set the scene for the coming year.

What happened to 2012? The year has flashed by at a feverish pace. In primary school, Christmas would take forever to get here. The school year dawdled by. Thoughts of a new year were far and few between. So what happens as we get older? Life happens. And as life rolls by, with its challenges, travels and work, we tend to bolt from one year to the next. If you are lucky enough to have a few years on your visa or living permanently in the UK, travel plans can get postponed, career development stalls and the year is done. On D-day (which eventually arrives), that voice appears: “If only I had done more earlier”.

As if you did not have enough to do at this time of year, experts, bosses, friends – everybody – are saying that you need to set goals. Not just any goals, SMART goals – Specific, Measureable, Actionable, Realistic, Timebound. But, in order to get to that, there are three questions you need to answer first.

What do you want?

When it comes to goals, sometimes the mind goes blank. Part of the problem is that most people do not know what they want. Take some time out to reflect. Identify the desires that you may have pushed aside but continue to whir in the background of your conscious. A great way to overcome this goal-

Why do you want it?

Having a goal is not enough. Without a clear reason for wanting to do something, goals become harder to achieve. Understanding the “why” provides the motivation and focus for working towards the outcome, even when it seems difficult.

How committed are you?

emerging currencies, has been affected by the negotiations in the US to avoid the so-called Fiscal Cliff.

US policy makers were hoping to have a solid plan in place by the end of 2012 that would avoid the automatic tax hikes and government spending cuts that are associated with the Fiscal Cliff. Repeated conflict in discussions prevented a solid plan from materializing, resulting in a decline in the Aussie to 1.555 against the British Pound by Christmas.

Gavin Stacey, of Barclays in Sydney said, “The only real guidance that we have is this sort of uncertainty associated with the Fiscal Cliff, and so that seems to be taking control of the Aussie Dollar,” reported Bloomberg.

Gains were found, however, by the Aussie against the Japanese Yen as it touched a 20-month high against the currency after data released showed a further drop in the nations’ too-low

price index. This placed further pressure on Japan to increase their inflation target in a bid to stimulate growth.

The US fiscal bill, which averts the cliff, finally passed by Congress in the early hours of 02 January kicked the Pound to a 16-month high against the US Dollar, largely offsetting any gains felt by the Aussie after the policy decision.

For the week ahead, the spotlight will remain on the US as markets react to the US’s new fiscal arrangement.

Exchange rates GBP/AUD: 1.553 EUR/AUD: 1.263 USD/AUD: 1.049 NZD/AUD: 1.250 09:55 GMT, 2 January 2013

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.

Commitment is correlated with effort.

When there is little commitment to something, the effort expended will be small and vice versa. Psychologically, once we become committed to something, we like to follow through.

This commitment becomes stronger when we understand why we are doing something or when we have taken even the smallest of steps. For example, if your theme is unusual holidays, you can commit to it by booking your trips at the start of the year. This way you can take advantage of cheap flights and packages, and organise time off work. Job done.

These days, the years seem to sprint by. Even if there was time to set goals, sometimes the deadlines can come and go. However, when we explore what we want and why, we can become motivated to take action.

Our commitment to ourselves and our goals increases when we are clear about why we are doing something.

So, what will you be doing in 2013?

GAIN A PROFESSIONAL EDGE FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS Sable offers an impressive portfolio of professional services. We have over 25 years of experience advising individuals, contractors and small businesses who have international interests and connections.

sable services Accounting Tax Wealth

Sepi Roshan is Director of Astute Coaching & Development, helping Professionals become fearless presenters and leaders.

Find out more at www.astutecd.com

OFFSHORE Foreign Exchange Law Immigration

Get More Jobs & Money

Sable Group

AustralianTimes.co.uk/jobs-money

Castlewood House 77/91 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1DG t: +44 (0) 845 094 3990 info@sable-group.com www.sable-group.com

Sable is a group of professional service companies.

Sable Accounting Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 03517738.

Sable Private Wealth Management Limited is registered in England & Wales, number 04305265, Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Visit: AustralianTimes.co.uk/move-to-australia 44057

an astute aussie in london

block is to ask “If this was the end of 2013, what will I have regretted not doing?”

Goals do not have to be elaborate.

An easy and effective way of defining your goals for 2013 is to develop a theme for the year. For example, “The year of unusual travel experiences” or “The year of my fabulous career change”. A theme can help with decisions about how you spend your time, effort and money.

From this theme, you can develop specific goals and actions.

Make sure you write your thoughts down. Next time you are wondering what 2013 is all about, your reminders will be there to help.

www.sable-group.com

In association with

Sport | 7

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Stosur digging deep hole: Hewitt Exonerated Lee to advise Baggy Blues board

Continued from p8...

Ryan Hoffman and Brett Finch both returned from England to play again under their mentor.

“We’d like to think that the emotional ties that he has to the club and its players will weigh in his thoughts,” Gauci says.

“If this is to be his last contract that he’ll consider where he’d like to finish his coaching days.

“We’d like to think that weighs favourably our way as well.”

Gauci said the Storm weren’t surprised by the reported size of the Dragons’ offer given Bellamy’s well-proven ability and standing in the game.

They planned to do all they could to accommodate him in terms of money and contract length, with the 54-yearold feeling this deal could be his last.

“We’re very keen to work with Craig’s requirements to keep him,” Gauci said.

“He has the role for as long as he wants as long as I’m in the chair.”

The Storm resume training in Melbourne on Thursday following a 10day break, with representative players skipper Smith and Cooper Cronk to make their first official appearances at training.

Slater has been granted leave to attend his sister’s wedding.

in a position to make further comment.”

The West Australian was drafted by the Suns in 2010 with their No.2 pick.

By Joe Barton

Favourite Big Tour Operator

Ski Trips Austria

Favourite Ski/Winter Operator Favourite Tour Operator in Western Europe

4 DAY Venice Carnival

8 DAY Ski Austria

Dep. 8 Feb 2013

Dep Weekly Jan-March

£399

£189

Join the locals at Venice’s annual carnival spectacular! The canals fill with boats and the piazzas come to life with costumes, parades and live entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

What’s Included:

2 exclusive mountain tours, snow bike pub crawl, traditional Austrian Xmas Dinner on Xmas week, all accommodation PLUS MORE!

EuroClub

EuroClub

9 DAY March on Rome

24 DAY Winter Spirit

Includes Paris, Switzerland, Florence & Rome

Includes Paris, Venice, Salzburg, Brugge, plus more!

Dep. 8 Jan 2013

Dep. 8 Jan 2013

WAS £625

UP TO

WAS £1595

£570 10% £1460

Includes £90 food fund

OFF

Includes £260 food fund

Winter Sun

UP TO 15% OFF EGYPT TRIPS

By Melissa Woods

Suns AFL star Bennell charged after NYE brawl Continued from p8...

cricket and I want to get it back to where it was over the last decade.

“Today’s been fantastic, it’s been a great win and I think both parties can actually walk away quite happy.”

It is understood Lee’s main concerns centred on the appointment of Stuart ahead of Trevor Bayliss as coach, the departure of young batsmen Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes to rival states and the poor form of the state side.

Since abandoning the Blues, Hughes and Khawaja have catapulted themselves back into the Australian Test set-up, while perennial powerhouse NSW haven’t won the Sheffield Shield since 2008.

It’s a far cry from the side that won in 2003 and 2005, or the dominant teams who featured in five Shield finals in the early ‘90s.

Winter Europe

ONLY

$6 million offer to enter the Dragon’s den

And now Lee will get a chance to have a direct impact on its future after being invited by Cricket NSW to join a subcommittee of its board to address the direction of cricket in the state.

A veteran of 76 Tests and 221 one-day internationals, Lee has strong opinions on the game that were expressed at Cricket NSW headquarters during the lengthy session, which was presided over by Terry Buddin SC and also attended by Gilbert and Lee’s manager Neil Maxwell.

“Hopefully after 17 years of international and first-class cricket, hopefully I can pass on some knowledge,” Lee said afterwards. “... It’s an opportunity for me to pass on what I’ve learned and to pass on some views and really embrace that.

To me, cricket in NSW and playing for the Baggy Blues is where it all started for me.

“I’m very passionate about NSW

NOW

By Jim Morton

AFTER being exonerated over controversial comments calling for the axing of Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert, former Test paceman Brett Lee on Wednesday set his sights on bringing the Blues back to their glory days.

Lee was beaming after a marathon three-hour Cricket Australia code of conduct hearing led to all charges against him being dropped - but his belief that the game is being poorly run in NSW hasn’t changed.

The 36-year-old said he was happy to have been cleared over the comments published in a Sydney newspaper last month concerning the sacking of coach Anthony Stuart that led to charges of unbecoming behaviour and detrimental public comment.

Lee told The Sun Herald on 23 December “it should have been at the top, Dave Gilbert. He should’ve been made to go”.

FROM

in Adelaide, my home town, and having to play (Andre) Agassi who was my idol, and I just loved being out there and doing it.”

Ironically, despite being one of the sport’s all-time greatest competitors, Hewitt did also suffer under the weight of home expectations.

In 16 visits to Melbourne Park, Hewitt only progressed beyond the fourth round once - making the 2005 final - and his record there (30-16) represents his worst strike rate of all four grand slam events.

Stosur’s story is similar to Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, the former world No.1 who openly admitted to freezing at Roland Garros.

Andy Murray, who lost three consecutive semi-finals in front British fans at Wimbledon before finally making the final last year and then winning the US Open, has advised Stosur to live in her own bubble over the next three weeks.

Hewitt is set to meet Murray in the quarter-finals at Brisbane if he can overcome Uzbek world No.44 Denis Istomin at Rat Rafter Arena on Thursday.

He looked sharp in a tough three-set win over Russian Igor Kunitsyn on Tuesday night and has a new lease on life after undergoing radical toe surgery.

“I feel happy with my movement and my mind’s free to chase every ball down and not second guess myself on the court,” Hewitt said.

NOW

EACH home soil defeat is eating away Samantha Stosur’s confidence towards the point of no return, according to Lleyton Hewitt.

Hewitt, who says he thrives on playing in Australia, believes Stosur is in danger of being consumed by the suffocating pressure of home expectation.

“Sure you get nervous but there’s an adrenaline buzz that brings out the best,” the former world No.1 said. “That’s a tough thing for Sam to pass now.

“She’s just digging a hole and it’s harder to get out.”

The women’s world No.9 has lost her last four matches in Australia dating back to last summer’s frustrating and forgettable run which ended with her first-round exit at the Australian Open.

An underdone Stosur blamed her disrupted build-up to the 2013 season due to ankle surgery rather than an inability to cope with the pressure when she fell to Swede Sofia Arvidsson in her first round match at the Brisbane International on Monday night.

Arvidsson won the match 7-6, 7-5 But the 2011 US Open champion admitted she must clear her head of the “silly thoughts” that remained after never making the quarter-finals in 10 Australian Open campaigns.

Stosur’s best results have come in 2006 and 2010 when she made the fourth round at Melbourne Park - where she holds a 14-10 overall record for a success rate of 58 per cent.

“I think it’s a lot within you,” Hewitt said of responding to the pressure. “I was a 16-year-old having to play a final

See our website for more info

He played every game of the 2012 season and finished runner-up in the club’s best and fairest last year, second only to champion Gary Ablett. - AAP

Clarke remembers special day Continued from p8...

up because they’re ready for it.”

Clarke has an on-going hamstring problem, but said he’s in better shape than he was heading into the second Test in Melbourne - where he went on to make a century.

The 31-year-old says he’s spent some time this week reminiscing about his triple century 12 months ago, which began a year when he scored more Test runs than any Australian in a calendar year (1595 at 106).

“That was a very special day,” he said.

“Walking out onto the ground (this

week), it brought back some great memories.”

Get More Sport

AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

www.topdeck.travel/times L8291 / Y2992

Call 0845 257 5411 Open 8am-9pm

*Terms and conditions apply. Prices quoted are for specific departures only. All trips subject to availability. Discounts are off the base trip price only, and do not apply to food funds, sailing funds and local payments. Flights not included. Egypt trip price includes local payment based on $1 = £0.618, which must be paid locally in USD. Exchange rates correct at time of printing, and subject to currency fluctuations, depending when payment is made. Offer subject to availability. The 10% ’Early Bird Discount’ is valid for new confirmed bookings made from 1 November 2012 and paid in full by 28 December 2012. The 10% ’Early Bird Discount’ applies exclusively to all EuroClub, EuroHotel, EuroCamping, Explorer & Winter Europe trips listed in Topdeck’s 2013 Europe brochure. The’ Early Bird Discount’ can be combined up to a maximum of 20% using one standard brochure discount with the exception of the ‘Early Payment Option’. Our Croatia Sailing and Turkish Gulet sailing trips are eligible for the 10% off Early Bird discount only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Please contact our friendly team for further details. The discount does not apply to Food Fund, Sailing Fund, local payment or pre/post accommodation. Normal cancellation conditions apply. Topdeck reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. The ‘Save up to amount’ is based on our ‘Discover Europe’ trip. See online for full terms and conditions.

BRETT LEE EXONERATED

Cricket Australia drops charges P7

CLARKE HUNGRIER FOR SUCCESS POST-HUSSEY n

Michael Clarke is backing himself and his team to go to another level this year following the retirement of Ricky Ponting and now Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey.

By Ben Horne AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke says the retirement of Mike Hussey has made him even hungrier for success.

Clarke has shown through his batting performances over the past 18 months that captaincy brings out the best in him.

But the generational change this summer that has seen Ricky Ponting exit the scene and Hussey about to follow will heap an unprecedented amount of pressure on Clarke’s shoulders.

Rather than be daunted by the extra burden in leadership, Clarke is backing himself to go to another level.

It’s fair to say Clarke might have set the bar a little too high at the SCG last year.

He is attempting to follow on from his stunning last-start 329 not out in Sydney.

“What are you saying, don’t play this Test?” smirked Clarke ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka.

“My goals haven’t changed. My hunger for success has probably only increased since hearing that Michael Hussey is going to retire.

“I know I have a huge responsibility as one of the leaders in this team to make sure I’m performing and leading from the front.”

Clarke has spoken to his players about what’s required to ensure the next generation don’t crash and burn in the Ashes without Hussey and Ponting.

“I’ve asked the players to work on their leadership, to feel like they are captain or vice-captain of the team.

I’ve said my whole career that you don’t need a ‘C’ or a ‘VC’ beside your name to lead,” he said.

“I think over the next 12 months, you’ll see these young players stand ...continued on p7

Bennell’s bad behaviour

STAR Gold Coast AFL midfielder Harley Bennell has been charged after New Year’s Eve celebrations turned ugly.

Bennell has been charged with disorderly behaviour and failing to obey an order given by a police officer during celebrations in Western Australia.

The 20-year-old was one of several people arrested when fighting broke out in his home town of Mandurah, south of Perth.

The Suns on Wednesday confirmed Bennell had been charged.

He is expected to face court in two weeks.

Gold Coast said in a statement: “As this is a police matter the club is not ...continued on p7

Love over money hopes the Storm

SAM STOSUR CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE | P7

Image by (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

MELBOURNE STORM are counting on Craig Bellamy choosing love over money following St George Illawarra’s massive bid to secure their successful NRL coach.

Off contract at the end of the 2014 season, the Dragons are believed to have tabled Bellamy an offer worth $6 million over five years.

The mastermind of the 2012 premiership, Bellamy has said he’s “50-50” about the possibility of leaving the club where he started his senior coaching career back in 2003 and he plans to make a decision on what’s likely to be his final coaching contract this month.

“We know he’s looking elsewhere and he’s entitled to do that,” Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said on Wednesday.

“We’re obviously keen to keep him and we’re negotiating to do that.”

Gauci said that with two clubs vying for him the chances of keeping him were also 50-50, but he hoped that Bellamy’s strong emotional ties would prove too strong.

Bellamy steered the club back to the 2012 title after the ignominy of losing their 2007 and 2009 titles for salary cap cheating, and he has a close bond with his players especially Storm superstars Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. ...continued on p7