Australian Times weekly newspaper | 5 February 2013

5 - 11 February 2013 Issue: 449

AUSSIE EATERIES

SHADOWMAN From Haiti to Abbey Road

SUBCULTURE SLEUTH

The flavour of Australia

Going undercover

FOOD & WINE P5

entertainment P7

UK Life P4

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PM URGES UNITY

n As federal parliament prepares for a new year, the prime minister has tried to hush grumbling in the Labor caucus.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called for unity in Labor’s ranks after she discovered MPs were lining up to criticise the government.

At the first caucus meeting before parliament resumes on Tuesday, Ms Gillard defended her decision to call the election for 14 September, arguing the move would give “shape and order” to the year.

But she said some MPs had anonymously provided negative comments to journalists about the government after the holidays, which could hurt Labor in marginal seats.

Ms Gillard made the case for unity and discipline, saying Labor would “protect people from life’s risks”.

She was also asked why she had “unfairly” allowed Northern Territory Senator Trish Crossin to be dumped from the top spot on the Labor NT Senate ticket in favour of Nova Peris, who’s likely to become the party’s first indigenous MP. Ms Gillard said she was troubled by the fact Labor did not have an indigenous federal member and the decision was appropriate.

The NT Senate preselection intervention, the arrest of suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson and the resignations of senior ministers Chris Evans and Nicola Roxon had created an “unnecessarily terrible week” for the government, a Labor figure told AAP on Monday.

Some of the fallout was reflected in the latest polls. Newspoll had the coalition leading Labor by 56 per cent to 44 per cent in two-party terms, while the Galaxy poll had the coalition ahead 54-46. ...continued on p3

CHARLESTON CHALLENGE Kerry Fox takes on Noel Coward’s The Vortex | P6

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By Alex Ivett AUSTRALIA is facing the longest election campaign in the nation’s history after Julia Gillard announced the federal poll has been set for 14 September.

For Australians back home it will mean seven and a half months of campaigning, policy platforms, costings and counter costings, as the two parties gear up for what is sure to be a bitterly fought election.

Although Australians in the UK may not get to experience the full heat in the election kitchen in the lead up to the showdown, for both parties the UK Australian electorate plays an important role in the outcome of any contest. Up to 200,000 UK Australians could cast their votes in the weeks leading up to the election, with many doing so in person at Australia House.

At the last election, with approximately 16,000-18,000 Australians casting their votes in London, Australia House became the biggest polling booth anywhere in the entire election.

It is for this reason ALP Abroad president Paul Smith urges overseas voters to ensure they are correctly enrolled to make sure their vote counts this election. ...continued on p3

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2 | News

5 - 11 February 2013

Stay classless, Australia

n Whilst the idea of an Australian classless society may be an ‘egalitarian myth’, it is, as CATHERINE BURRELL argues, an important part of our shared identity and a worthy ideal.

Publisher: Bryce Lowry Editor: Alex Ivett Production/Design: Jackie Lampard News Editor: Paul Bleakley Business Editor: Sepi Roshan Contributors: Catherine Burrell, Tim Martin, David Hyde, Georgia Dawes, Shannon Crane, Phillip Browne, Erin Somerville, Melissa Shortal, Justin Ng, Gareth Mohen, George Katralis, Chris Arkadieff, Lee Crossley, Mel Edwards,

Will Fitzgibbon, Bronwyn Spencer, Emily Banyard, Daniel Shillito, Mat Lyons, Sharon Spence Lieb, Nicole Crowley, Alex Bruce-Smith, Sandra Tahmasby, 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

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A FEW Saturdays ago was Australia Day. Craving a chicken parma, I even ventured into the Glasgow Walkabout to celebrate. Sadly, the kitchen had just closed.

The day before – at the stroke of midnight AEDT, or 1pm Thursday GMT – I applied for permanent residency in the UK. (I was in Glasgow because the good people at the UK Border Agency were unable to give me an appointment near my London home, despite paying a £400 premium for the same-day service.)

I can hear (and have heard) the protesting cries: “traitor”, “pommyloving bastard”, “bloody unAustralian, mate”. I’ve never been up for Hansonesque flag-wearing displays of scary nationalism – so whatever, mate.

All it means is that for the past five years, with a few sanity-restoring trips home, I have been living, loving and working in the UK and I want to continue doing so for now.

There’s a lot to like about life in the UK – though perhaps not the currently controversial Life in the UK test. There’s the weather (no really); I love proper seasons and the transformative effect of the first long, warm, sunny day on everyone’s disposition. There’s the proximity to so much of the rest of the world.

There’s the countryside, the history, Shakespeare (now dead), Doctor Who, the manly men who drink cider, the recessions (OK, no one likes them) and Christmas pantomimes.

Then there’s class. It’s pervasive and, I think, more than a little perverse. It’s not usually rude or even disrespectful. It’s just there, woven into the cultural fabric, all the time: little underlying judgments being made on the sound of someone’s voice, or the sports they follow, or who their great, great, great grandfather’s uncle was.

And I hate it.

Of course, for classism in the UK you could easily insert racism, sexism and/ or xenophobia in Australia. Two of the biggest stories about Australia to make UK headlines in the past year were Alan Jones’s “women are destroying the joint” venom, which eventually gave rise to that speech by Julia Gillard, and the vile episode involving a French woman on a Melbourne bus. Long live the ugly Australian. I guess.

Regardless of how you viewed the 225th anniversary of the First Fleet’s

Your Say

On: First bloke Tim Mathieson makes bad taste ‘female Asian doctor’ joke

Non-plussed? Rubbish, the PM was laughing. A lot of the media released was not the full statement.

He allegedly added at the end of the statement ‘one who does not have Parkinson’s Disease’ or words to that effect. The joke in itself was probably meant to be light hearted, but after the PM’s attacks on the Leader of the Opposition in her famous (or infamous) speech on misogyny and sexism, which is how this ‘joke’ could be perceived,

?

What’s your view

arrival, on Australia Day there were barbecues and protests and the Hottest 100. The prime minister may even have kicked off a shoe, or two. Many had the day off. Those who didn’t were earning penalty rates at or above a minimum wage that reflects the cost of living thanks to a relatively intact industrial relations system that never had to withstand the extremes of a threeday working week in the 1970s nor Thatcher’s retribution in the 1980s.

Then again, I doubt even the stevedores and John Howard would have let their industrial clashes of the 1990s go that far. It would fly too far in the face of Australians’ sense of a fair go.

Australia is not an equal society.

Indigenous Australians can expect to live about 11 years less than nonindigenous Australians. Wealth gaps are growing – and the rich are getting richer faster. Sudanese refugees seem to be the latest target for the sort of hate experienced by previous waves of immigrants.

Yet somehow, despite these ugly divisions, there really is a sort of cultural egalitarianism in Australia that manages to include everyone. It is the best thing going in the land of Oz and the reason I will always be Australian. There’s nothing like it in the UK. Sure the idea Australia has a classless society is a myth – the egalitarian myth– but it is part of our shared identity.

It is probably why Australia, in fifth place among the world’s richest nations for the widest income inequality between the richest and poorest 20%, had better social outcomes than the UK in fourth according to The Spirit Level. Despite a large and growing income gap, authors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett found Australia did comparatively OK on UNESCO’s child wellbeing index and good on maths and literacy scores.

But there is an, apparently inadvertent, attempt to codify class in Australia, which would be bloody unAustralian, mate.

The draft anti-discrimination bill currently before the federal senate has a lot of good things in it, even if it does largely exempt religious bodies from having to follow the law.

However, it includes “social origin” as a grounds for discrimination.

I share NSW Community Relations Commission chairman Stepan Kerkyasharian’s concern about this. He told The Australian recently: “It’s going

to codify a class structure which is totally against the whole concept of our egalitarian society. To make a complaint that I’ve been discriminated against on the grounds of my social origin… I have to identify myself as belonging to a particular social class. That is a very dangerous precedent.”

Indeed. Besides, how are most Australians to do that? We are all boat people, to steal from Bob Hawke, and most of us are mongrels of various races, old world nationalities and, dare I say it, classes.

Australia Day 2013 was my first with a new immigration status in this humorous, currently freezing, rather polite, but thoroughly class-riddled society.

It was not UK Day, if such a thing existed. It was not about patron saints slaying dragons or holding off Normans or driving out snakes. But like St George’s Day in England, St David’s Day in Wales and St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, Australia/Invasion/Survival Day is about national myths, legends and identity.

As far as I’m concerned, people can keep their flag-waving and “Australia is the best country in the world” chestthumping to themselves. Or not. They can sit, or lie down, or dance while the national anthem plays, be it Advance Australia Fair or Waltzing Matilda or I am Australian. Change the date of Australia Day to something less divisive, if that’s what people want.

Why not 2 January? New Year’s Day occupies the anniversary of the date modern Australia came into being in 1901, but we could give everyone the next day off too. Better yet, if folks could agree to it not being held in summer, go for 27 May– the day in 1967 when 90.77% of enfranchised Australians agreed to extend the vote to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders – or, best of all, 10 August when it became law and Australia finally had full universal suffrage, a real fair go for all.

But do not mess with egalitarianism.

Myths are not reality. They’re about ideals. And as far as they go, that Jack is as good as his master is not a bad one.

It’s something everyone, regardless of “social origin”, can share. And it is far more likely to help Australia get over, or at least lessen the impact of, its social and economic divides than the idea that a man slaying a fire-breathing beast will ever help England, where classism is most pronounced in the UK, get over its.

portrays another double standard for this PM. It’s OK for us, but not for the Opposition Party.

independent point to readjust the National Anthem myself. I feel not alone now, and even Australians themselves seem pretty um’n’ah about what is being sung. Many are ashamed to sing it and many haven’t even bothered to learn the lyrics. You can see at the State of Origin that people are moving their lips along with the music.

Noeline

On: Mundine to boycott singing of “Advance Australia White”

I think there is truth in what he says.

Australia hasn’t advanced very far from an aboriginal perspective, so you have to admit he’s right.

Stephen

It would be great to sit and talk with you Anthony Mundine, as I have been pushing from a very small and

Joe

Mundine, why don’t you put your mouth to good use and enter politics? MP Mundine, I’d like to see that. LOL Darkstar

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

News | 3

AustralianTimes.co.uk

ALP must make use of Rudd’s Australia House biggest polling booth in federal election ...continued from p1 overseas voters. they can be proud of when they are popularity, say party members Jason Groves, Liberal Party UK in the UK, and offers fairness and ...continued from p1 Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told the first shadow cabinet meeting of the year that voters wanted the coalition to be less of an opposition and more of an “alternative government”.

“What people are now looking for is a little bit more from us,” he said.

Meanwhile, two senior ministers are urging their party to make use of former leader Kevin Rudd’s popularity with voters ahead of the election.

Regional Australia minister Simon Crean believes Mr Rudd should be considered an asset.

“He is an asset and we should use him, but it has to be a disciplined asset,” he told ABC radio.

Mr Rudd, who lost the leadership in June 2010, has maintained a high profile. He recently rejoined Seven’s Sunrise political panel and continually attends fundraising events for Labor candidates.

Labor minister Anthony Albanese agreed.

“We need to engage Kevin Rudd and use him wherever possible,” he said.

A coalition frontbencher said Mr Rudd’s supporters were “circling” Ms Gillard.

But political consultant and Rudd confidant Bruce Hawker said the former leader was behind Ms Gillard.

“He is backing her in,” Mr Hawker

told AAP. “It’s all hands to the pump. They need their most talented people to campaign rigorously.”

New ministers Mark Dreyfus, who becomes attorney-general, and Mike Kelly, the new defence materiel minister, were sworn in at Government House in Canberra on Monday.

They fill the spots vacated by Nicola Roxon and Senator Chris Evans respectively.

Caucus elected Communications Minister Stephen Conroy as the government’s new leader in the Senate, replacing Senator Evans, and Finance Minister Penny Wong was elected deputy Senate leader.

Later Nicola Roxon, newly returned to the backbench after stepping down as Attorney-General, said Ms Gillard hadn’t been talking about herself getting white-anted but rather the Labor cause.

“She was simply giving people an appropriate reminder ... that if we don’t all pull together and work for the Labor cause, instead of maybe gossiping or possibly leaking to the media, that we’ll actually damage ourselves,” Ms Roxon told ABC television.

“We want to actually win the next election ... and to do that we all have to be pulling in the right direction.” - AAP

“To be sure of your vote you need to enrol to vote as an overseas elector” he said.

Australians living in the UK are able to register as an overseas elector if already enrolled to vote in federal elections, and intend to return to Australia within six years.

Australians must register as an overseas elector within three years after leaving Australia.

Those who are not enrolled need to firstly enrol and then register as an overseas elector.

Smith says he does not want to see people disenfranchised from voting from failing to fulfil the conditions of enrolment.

He says out of the estimated 1 million Australians overseas during the 2007 election, only 70,000 were registered as

Branch president, agrees that the votes of Australians in the UK will be important in the upcoming election.

“It is very important for overseas voters to exercise their democratic vote.”

Groves states the UK Branch of the Liberal Party is gearing up for a solid campaign, and have a base of volunteers keen to get involved.

Both parties will be seeking to appeal to the young professional vote in London.

Smith considers the type of Australian living and working in the UK may have a left leaning tendency, likening the UK Australian expat electorate to an innercity borough.

“The background of Australian voters in the UK is generally educated, younger, people who have a global outlook and professional.

“They are people who want a country

opportunity when they go home.

“At the moment they can go home to the only booming economy in the world, and we’d like to keep it that way.”

Groves agrees that a key factor in the decision that Australians in the UK will make this election will be about what kind of Australia they want to return to.

“Australians thinking of going back home will have pause for thought this election.

“We haven’t heard any costing details from the Prime Minister on how they will pay for policies.

“Australians will be looking anxiously and waiting to see what type of tax raises will be in store.

“This is the most anticipated election in the nation’s history, and there are a lot of voters out there who want to have their say.”

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4 | UK Life

5 - 11 February 2013

The lonely glove

n Our resident adventurer visits #27 on the Timeout London Top

100 – Somerset House – and discovers hours of entertainment hidden in this oasis of calm in the midst of a busy city.

tube talk > Sandra Tahmasby

It’s the latest epidemic to hit London and it’s only going to get a whole lot worse. Each day at least five single gloves are left behind on the Tube.

It is the case of the lonely glove.

Over the past week my friend Adriana was visiting from Australia.

Naturally we were frequently out and about exploring London town. This is when I was made fully aware of the growing number of lonely and sad looking single gloves.

I helped out where I could - if I was given the chance I would rescue the glove and return it to its rightful owner with a polite, “Excuse me, but you have dropped your glove”. A lot of times people were happy to have a complete stranger return their lost item, but sometimes all I got was a grunt.

However, there were also times when it was just too late and the glove was found on a platform or on a tube station staircase.

It has slowly become something I constantly notice and it is no longer easy for me to see a glove that had come away from its other half. A lonesome glove left to fend for itself

Somewhere in Somerset House… bron in

the don BRONWYN SPENCER

in the big city. Never to be reunited with its mate again.

It also made my mind wander to Tube headquarters Lost and Found.

Imagine all the lonely gloves just lying around, waiting for the day someone might wear them again.

Do these owners not care for their gloves enough? Do they take the warmth of the tube for granted and for the rest of the day put up with one cold hand?

As the weather gets colder over the next few weeks keep an eye out on the tube and tube stations - if you see someone drop their glove put yourself in their shoes. Make sure you help those lonely left behind gloves help find their way back to their friends.

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My first experience with Somerset House was in the summertime when I met friends for a Friday night drink on the River Terrace. We sat in the breeze and chatted over a few wines next to the river, on one of those glorious sunny evenings that occasionally happen in a London summer.

More recently, in the middle of a wintery snowy day, I decided to check it out properly with an afternoon of history, food and art. It was a completely different experience, but just as fun.

We started with the free tour, an excellent insight into the historical and architectural importance of the building. As we wandered and shivered through the courtyard we learnt about the relevance of the sculptures, as well as the history of the area. It was then off to the basement level to check out the light and coal wells, before taking refuge inside away from the cold.

Once inside we headed down the ‘Stamp Stairs’ - a spiraling staircase that takes you down to the remnants of

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the old Tudor palace previously built on the site before Somerset House.

It was rebuilt in 1780 to be used as government buildings, but only opened to the public in the 1990s.

Now home to London Fashion Week, open air cinemas in the summer and ice skating rinks in the winter, it is hard to imagine it being used for anything else. And that’s not to mention the gallery spaces which are available for some amazing exhibits.

Currently fashion icon Valentino has an exhibit, but with a £12.50 entry fee and long line to get in we decided to skip it and see the photography exhibits instead. First up was the Cartier-Bresson: Expression of Colour, displaying pictures exploding with colour of people and places from all over the world.

We then moved on to the Tim Walker: Storyteller - a fashion photographer who takes weird and wacky photographs, with a few celebrities dressed in couture thrown in.

After all that walking it was, of course, time for a coffee. Luckily

there are a few choices at Somerset House. There is a resident Ferdandez & Wells café, heaving with people when we poked our heads in, so we decided to head over to the south wing and visit Tim’s Kitchen. A swanky place, with matching prices, we then instead headed to Tim’s Deli. It was the perfect place to grab a warm drink and sandwich before setting off back out into the cold.

Somerset House is the kind of place you could pop into in your lunch break, or spend hours sitting and eating on the terrace in summer. It has a little something for everyone and is worth a look in, no matter how long you plan on staying for.

Chav camouflage SUBCULTURE SLEUTH > PAUL BLEAKLEY

When I first moved to the London, I was very lucky in the sense that I had a lot of friends that were already established over here. Many of them were part of the ex-pat Australian community, although some of them had ‘gone native’.

One of those that had gone native was my oldest friend, Nick. He has the firm belief that there is a difference between a tourist and someone that fully assimilates in local culture. I was surprised when I first saw him upon my arrival: despite being an Australian he looked, spoke and acted like a proper Londoner.

Going native is mostly a matter of attitude, however your physical appearance plays a large role in how readily you are accepted into a social group. Dress the wrong way and you will stand out like a sore thumb, making cultural assimilation all the more difficult. I have spent a lot of time observing chavs in my quest to understand and, ultimately, become one of their kind. It seems there are a few key aspects of the dress code that must be adhered to as a condition of acceptance.

Tracksuits

This one is important for both men and women aspiring to be chavs.

The industry standard is a matching Adidas set from Sports Direct, although if you’re feeling a bit skint a Primark set would do just fine.

Joggers

This is one that I already did without even realising it. I believe that there is no occasion in which it is not acceptable to wear some form of running shoe. This is particularly the case in London, where you are going to be wandering from pub to pub with the lads and therefore will need sensible footwear.

Jewellery

Girls take yourselves down to a Cash-4-Gold store on your local high street because you’re going to need some big hoop earrings to fit in as a chav. Boys, you’re not off the hook either. You might want a faux diamond ear-stud, although if that’s not your thing you should at least get yourself a gaudy sovereign ring.

Hoodies

The whole concept of the hoodie has become emblematic of the chav culture, to the point where it has almost fallen into the realm of satire.

It is getting into winter, however, so a hoodie is both practical and provides appropriate camouflage amongst the local chavs.

Baseball caps

Do not wear them back-to-front, because that is so 1990s. You want to perch the hat on your head precariously, on only a slight angle.

The bream must be kept flat and, if you are paying attention to detail, you will leave the sticker on the front. I am not quite sure why, but if you take it off you will be spotted for a nonchav almost instantly.

Food & Wine | 5

AustralianTimes.co.uk

True blue Tucker

n A taste of home: eating Aussie in London cheeses all prepared and cooked in true Aussie style. Barossa serves breakfast, brunch and lunch and also offers a selection of freshly made cakes and pastries for those with a sweet tooth.

The Lark Inn

By David Hyde Living in London as an Australian is fantastic, but the lack of Aussie flavours is sometimes a downside.

We have done some digging and come across five of the best Australian and Aussie inspired restaurants that London has to offer. From little Australian cafés to Australian inspired fine dining, our list has something for every Aussie expat. Being over 20,000 kilometers from home just got a little a bit easier.

425 New King’s Road, Fulham,SW6 4RN Nothing says eating Aussie like firing up the Barbie at the weekends, and this is exactly what The Lark Inn does.

Their BBQ that takes place every weekend is a must in the summer, from burgers to steaks, prawns and hog roasts you are sure to leave satisfied. Away from the BBQ the Lark Inn serves a range of platters, chicken wings and steaks that are all washed down with real Australian and NZ beers: Mac’s Gold & Steinlager, Speights and Tooheys are all on offer.

277 New King’s Rd London, Greater London SW6 4RD The first restaurant on our list is Barossa, a charming independent café that offers a variety of classic Australian dishes. The Aussie style tapas is a must try, giving you the opportunity to sample a wide range of different meats, fish, vegetables and

127 Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, W11 2AQ For those of you who like fine dining then The Ledbury is for you. It is a two Michelin Star Notting Hill restaurant with Australian head chef Brett Graham heading up the kitchen.

This food is modern and the menu is full of innovation. Brett’s Australian background finds its way into every

Captivating cod

n This week Maze Grill’s Chris Arkadieff

shares his recipe for a perfect fish dish with aromatic Asian influences.

chris’s

kitchen

> CHRIS ARKadieff

Asian flavours always marry well with a succulent fillet or tranche of a soft white flesh fish like cod. The soft layers of flesh melt to perfection when gently poached. Always make sure your fish is both fresh and suitably sourced to ensure the very best results.

Salvation Jane

Old Street, London EC1Y Salvation Jane is an Australian café that has a big emphasis on brunch inspired dishes and their French toast with maple syrup, bacon and fried bananas is a favourite with both new visitors and regulars. The lunchtime menu is available between 12 and 3 daily and has a focus around sandwiches, salads and main courses with a strong Australian influence.

This café ticks all the boxes for eating like a true Aussie when in London.

Granger & Co

The Ledbury

Barossa

dish, giving you the opportunity to experience a refined taste of home.

Creating home made broths with fresh spices and ground herbs are always rewarding and produce a far superior flavor. This recipe calls for galangal, which is very similar to ginger with a distinct peppery flavour and is widely used in Thai cooking.

Fresh bulbs can be found in most Asian food stores.

I like to add fresh octopus to the broth just before serving, enhancing the taste and texture of the dish and finish with a handful of fragrant coriander. Enjoy

Roasted cod and baby octopus in a fresh galangal with coriander broth

175 Westbourne Grove W11 2SB Next up is Granger & Co, owned by Australian chef Bill Granger who is renowned for his easy-going cooking approach. The restaurant itself offers a casual environment to enjoy all day dining on classic Bill Granger dishes that sit on a menu alongside modern dishes with a real Australian feel. The BBQ inspired dishes are delicious and give a real taste of home. There is also an extensive wine list that includes wines from across Australia.

Coffee Cult visits: The Providores in Marylebone

It is not ok to bring a dog to The Providores. I know this because squeezing into the busy ground floor Tapa Room I stood on one. The sausage of a thing was unhappily attached to a talking fur coat who was simultaneously lingering in the small entrance way whilst loudly declaring her rush to get to a beauty appointment.

Late, having missed the memo about leather leggings being breakfast wear du jour in Marylebone, and to be honest, more in need of a bacon buttie than something that came with a side of vanilla verjus syrup, I just wanted to get seated and get caffeinated.

What the dog wanted to do (besides be anywhere else than a crowded café on a busy Saturday morning) was be a buffer between the floor and my tattered boot.

The dog won. I had three excellent coffees to compensate, and the rest of the experience was an overcaffeinated, hectic, enjoyable haze.

So there we have it, our top five restaurants where you can eat Aussie in London. Next time you are missing a good Australian meal visit one of these restaurants for a sense of home away from home.

What you need

• 2 x 180g piece of cod • 100g fresh octopus or baby squid • 750ml of fish stock • ½ bunch of fresh coriander leaves

For the paste:

• 1 tsp coriander seeds, toasted • 1tsp fennel seeds, toasted • 1 tsp white peppercorns, toasted • 1 carrot roughly chopped • 1 small red onion roughly chopped • ½ baby fennel • 2 cloves of garlic • 2 birds eye chili • 2 kaffir lime leaves • 1 stalk of lemongrass • 50g fresh galangal • 3 tomatoes roasted without skins • Sea salt

What to do

• Blend all the ingredients for the paste in a food processor until smooth. Add a couple drops of water if the mixture is difficult to blend.

• Take a shallow saucepan and place on a medium heat.

• Add 75ml of vegetable oil and slowly sauté the paste, until it becomes aromatic.

• Add the fish stock and boil.

• Turn the heat down and place the seasoned cod skin side up in the pan.

• Cover with tin foil and cook for 7 minutes on a low heat.

• Remove the foil and add the baby octopus and cook for a further 2 mins.

• Taste the broth and add seasoning if requires before removing the fish.

• To serve, use a small ladle to scoop out the broth and octopus into a bowl.

• Carefully lift the fish from saucepan onto the plate.

• Scatter with fresh coriander leaves and serve.

The Craic If The Providores were a person, it would not be one who exuded an aura of calm – talking in soft tones about meditative moments spent in silent yoga retreats. She would be ambitious and brash, exciting and innovative. Loud, confident, better dressed than me and always in a rush.

One of those annoying people who could spontaneously throw salmon paste in with pine nuts and mandarin juice and have it look like something out of Nigella, and taste like something from The Fat Duck. You would simultaneously hate her, and always want to be in her company.

It is for this reason that The Providores already has a strong cult-like following amongst Londoners who like their food to surprise as well as satisfy. Queues often form early on the weekend for the

chance to sample the eclectic brunch menu offered at the downstairs Tapa Room – named after the traditional wall hanging making a feeble attempt to soften the rising din of the crowded room.

People are squeezed on sitdown tables around the edges, and along two long benches in the middle. It is a place where your proximity to your neighbour is such you can’t help but notice they’re also Australian, and therefore bond over your mutual appreciation of brunch and the 2-4-1 cocktails at the nearby Marylebone.

The Crucials The brunch menu changes every month, although it seems a stalwart of the menu is the poached eggs with whipped yogurt – two perfect circles floating in a hot chilli butter bath. It turns out to be ten times more delicious and restorative than a bacon buttie, and infinitely classier. A new post Friday night drinks fixer-upper.

Similarly, the other items of the menu take your classic breakfast fare, and add a twist. The menu swims with words I don’t understand, and – like Marylebone itself – can’t pronounce correctly (is it Maaarlyebone, or Mairlyebone?)

What exactly is tamarillo compote?

Kikones? Clover honey? Salsa rossa?

Yuzu hollandaise? Oh who cares, it all tastes good and looks impressive.

At least the appearance of two softboiled eggs with vegemite soldiers on the menu offers that little touch of familiarity, as does the puffy muffins and pastries lining the bench.

The Connection The Providores is co-owned and run by Peter Gordon and Michael McGrath who both bring a strong Antipodean influence to bear on the operation – not least in the extensive New Zealand wine menu offered alongside the lunch and dinner menu.

Peter was born in New Zealand before moving to Melbourne to study cookery and hone his skills. He started The Providores with co-owner Michael – a native Londoner who emigrated to NZ at fourteen, before working in restaurants in Sydney before returning to London.

The Conclusion The menu may have taken me by surprise, the pronunciation of its location may send me into paroxysms of inadequacy, and I may even have stepped on a dog – but it was still an excellent experience and one Coffee Cult plans to repeat, if we can brave the lines of those wanting to do the same.

The Providores, 109 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4RX

6 | Entertainment

What’s On Rolf Harris 8 February @ Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre The Australian Pink Floyd Show 25 February @ London 02 Arena The Rubens 27 February @ Scala Olivia Newton-John 13 March @ Royal Albert Hall Tommy Emmanuel 16 March @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire The Jezabels 22 March @Barfly Camden Pam Ann 28-29 March @ Hammersmith Apollo

5 - 11 February 2013

The Charleston challenge n Ahead of her role as Florence in Noël Coward’s 1920s classic The Vortex, Antipodean star Kerry Fox has been busy practising her Charleston shuffle.

By Georgia Dawes Sex, drugs and money, money, money.

No, I am not talking about a big night out you had recently.

I’m talking about The Vortex starring Antipodean Kerry Fox playing at Rose Theatre Kingston, as it explores themes such as sexual vanity and drug abuse among the upper class.

Written by Noël Coward and first performed in 1924, The Vortex delves into the unconventional and intoxicating relationship of the decadent, drug- addicted young composer Nicky Lancaster and his flamboyant, nymphomaniac socialite mother, Florence. It is a

Sarah Blasko 11 April @Barbican Centre

story of an extraordinary mother-son relationship that goes well beyond standard motherly nagging and fights over a messy room.

Antipodean Kerry Fox stars as Florence in this Stephen Unwin directed version, alongside the likes of James Dreyfus, David Dawson, Sophie Rundle and Helen Atkinson Wood. With a long list of accolades, including Best Actress at the 1990 New Zealand Film and TV Awards for her role in An Angel at my Table and a nomination for Best Supporting actress at the Australian Film Institute Awards for her role in Bright Star, Kerry is no stranger to starring in award-winning productions in theatre, television and film.

Ahead of the curtains rising for the premiere of The Vortex on 7 February Kerry told Australian Times she has been extremely busy rehearsing for

opening night. Although it has been almost 90 years since the play was first performed, she says the themes still resonate today.

“The subject matter of the motherson relationship and the obstacles that come between them are still extremely relevant to modern audiences.”

Kerry says she has found her role as Florence, a flamboyant socialite mother, both fun and challenging.

With two young sons of her own Kerry says the role has taught her what not to do as a mother – essentially to do the opposite of everything Florence would do.

Although The Vortex is being brought to the 21st century stage, the play itself will continue to be set in the 1920s. Through costumes (think dapper and flapper) and dance (think Charleston and swing dancing) the audience will feel as though they have taken a step back into the roaring 1920s as the spectacle of The Vortex unfolds on stage.

With many flamboyant costumes making up her show wardrobe, Kerry says she is excited to be hitting the dance floor once again - this time in 1920s style. The

cast have been practising their Charleston step ahead of this week’s premiere.

With the finishing touches being put to costumes, and dance routines perfected, the curtain is almost set to rise on The Vortex 90 years after it was first performed. And with an all star cast, a brilliant script and a timeless subject matter The Vortex promises to still pack an extraordinary punch.

now cyclone Oswald has turned into a monsoonal trough and Queensland is recording its highest rain fall ever. Bring it on. I’ll sit and watch the tennis tonight.

Went and watched Wreck It Ralph.

Great movie.

I’m at the bowling alley with the kids now and I’ll explore every alley of what to do with them in the rain. Driving around looking for puddles could be fun.

Don’t know if the rescue services will be too pleased with me when they’re trying to evacuate people in low lying areas. That’s where all the good puddles are. I’ve had it good really. First rain since I started on the trip. At least when it rains here it rains and it lets go. Did some radio for the UK tour and it was 33 degrees at 11.00pm here whilst it was -3 in Ireland. Very funny. I don’t know what I’m laughing about though. I’ll be there next week.

Went surfing. It doesn’t really matter if it’s raining when you are in the water.

I say surfing. I went into the water and got bashed around by surf and people

telling me to get off their wave. I didn’t know it was their wave. Thought it was all supposed to be love and peace out here in the water. I had a go at kite surfing the other day. I think it’s going to take a few lessons before they let me out on the water. I just about got the kite up. That was tricky enough. A mate of mine has started doing it and can actually stand up but I can’t be having that.

Back to Melbourne before heading to the UK. Off to see The Waterboys at the Arts Centre.

UK tour starts on 8 February in Manchester and then I’m up and down the country.

I’ll send another postcard from wherever I’m at in the UK and keep you posted on what is going on.

The Vortex is playing at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 7 February to 2 March 2013. Tickets are £12 - £40. See rosetheatrekingston.org for details.

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 #Auspol @ABCNews24 The Labor Caucus has elected Communications Minister Stephen Conroy as Senate Leader and @SenatorWong as Deputy. #auspol @Fake_Penny_Wong Up since 5am fobbing off colleagues wanting me to add AG to my responsibilities.

Ability is a double-edged sword sometimes #auspol @TomCBallard Gillard still refusing to confirm what she’ll be wearing on Election Day#auspol @AntonyGreenABC 9 months notice of the election date. Longer than the 3 months Menzies gave in 1958 and 1961. #auspol @latikambourke More importantly, how does the election date and campaign factor in with the return of #BreakingBad? :) @TurnbullMalcolm Deeply disappointed that Julia Gillard chose to hold the election on Yom Kippur - the most solemn and sacred day of the Jewish year.

Follow us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

Postcards from Jimeoin

28 January 2013 Here in Noosa, Queensland on Australia Day doing my last show before heading to the UK for tour. A lot of flag waving going on here and people trying to be more Australian than they are for the rest of the year.

Fair Dinkum mate. I’ve driven up the coast from Melbourne doing gigs along the way: Eden, Batemans

IeNts W k Tic

Bay, Wollongong, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Ballina, Byron Bay. Byron Bay was fun. I ended up at some rave with all these hippies with dreadlocks. Love a rave, me. When am I going to grow up? Not today if I can get away with it.

The weather has taken a turn for the worst. It was paradise two days ago and

To win tickets to Jimeoin – What?! at Bloomsbury Theatre go to AustralianTimes.co.uk/win

Entertainment | 7

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Aussie musician with ‘Heart of Gold’

n Ahead of the release of his first single, Telen Rodwell talks to ALEX BRUCE-SMITH about how he has managed to combine his two passions - humanitarian work and music.

Telen Rodwell is an Australian musician about to release his first album Shadowman here in London.

Hailing from the small town of Wynyard, Tasmania, his music is reminiscent of the early works of Jeff Buckley or Leonard Cohen. It is an intimate look into the mind of a man struggling – and witnessing others struggle – with identity.

Shadowman is the culmination of 15 years “obsessively and compulsively writing”, yet up until now has rarely been shared.

“It’s an avenue for self expression.

When I’m writing, I never stop at the first words. I try to find a deeper meaning. It’s like self analysis,” Telen tells Australian Times.

Telen, who taught himself to play guitar at the age of 21, has spent years writing music and poetry, but before now had never thought of turning professional.

One only has to listen to his music to see that Telen is a man very in-tune with the world around him.

Indeed, the majority of his life has been consumed by another passion: helping disadvantaged communities in Australia and beyond.

It seems that Telen at one point or other has worked with almost everyone: from infants to the elderly; from those with physical to mental disabilities; in juvenile detention centers and prisons. This passion to help others lead him down a road that saw him volunteering in Haiti, being discovered, and eventually recording his first album at the legendary Abbey Road studios.

Perhaps the defining aspect of Telen’s musical career is his friendship with Larry Sullivan, a fellow committed humanitarian, the father of his sister-in-law, and chairman and co-founder of the COINS Foundation.

“Larry’s motto is that if you have wealth and success, your obligation is to share it,” says Telen.

The two met at a wedding and quickly bonded over their shared passions in poverty, disability and equality. Mutual interests developed into a deep friendship - the track ‘Mr Million Miles Away’ was even written for Larry.

In 2011, Larry was set to travel to disaster-stricken Haiti with Habitat for Humanity, a charity dedicated to building earthquake and hurricane resistant homes. He asked Telen to accompany him, both for the eye-opening experience and to document the work being done by the foundation (Telen is also an accomplished film director).

Haiti proved to be a pivotal moment in Telen’s career. One night, fellow volunteers and US musicians Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood put on an impromptu performance for the group.

“Somebody fished out some old guitar from somewhere,” says Telen. “[I] grabbed the guitar and sung a couple songs.”

Playing to the group of volunteers was one of the first times Telen had played his music in public. Larry decided then and there to invest in Telen as a musican.

“Larry thought my music was as good as anyone’s, so why not?”

He moved to London, was signed to Borough Records, and set about creating his first album.

How did it feel to perform his music to others, after so many years of hiding it away? Exhilarating?

Terrifying?

“Both. I think fear and excitement are the same emotion – they both feel exactly the same. It just depends on what you associate it with.”

“Whenever I’d watch mates play, or you heard music in a pub or something … I know what goes in to writing a song. I know the emotions behind it. You’d see someone playing and it means so much to them. You can put everything you’ve got into something and send it out there, and it can come across [to someone else] completely differently.”

What can we expect to see from Telen in the future?

“I’d like to continue to draw things together,” he says, referring to combining his creative and humanitarian work. This new album is only the start – proceeds from the sales will be directed towards the COINS Foundation, and in turn will feed back into projects like Habitat for Humanity.

Performing live in the near future is definitely on the cards – in the coming months, Telen will be performing and workshopping at the Stepping Stones School, a school for children with mild disabilities.

Talking to him, it’s clear that working with disadvantaged kids is where his heart truly lies.

“Kids drop out [of school] and they get blamed, but nobody’s trying to understand them. You need to teach a child how to learn, not what to learn; you can easily hurt their thirst for knowledge.”

Musical education, then, seems to be the way forward for Telen; all people find connection to the emotion of music, no matter what their background is. And as for education?

Telen’s views are clear: “Learning is the most exciting thing you can do.”

Telen Rodwell’s single ‘Heart of Gold’ will be available on 25 February from iTunes and his album Shadowman will be available in the summer.

Get More Music

AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

Photo of the Week: A postcard from Sydney

“This photo was taken at a Sydney Festival ‘pop-up’ bar.

It was 7pm and still hitting 40 degrees in the midst of the heat wave that became Sydney’s third hottest day ever, and resistance was futile.

“We sat there dressed to the nines, wilting like week-old flowers and glancing longingly at the cruise ship pictured across the harbour, where tiny people dots were simultaneously enjoying a rooftop waterslide and multi-million dollar views.

“Nevertheless, utilising the menus as fans, sipping out of coconuts and flirting with attentive waiters, life was still Image and words provided by an pretty good!”

Australian reader Davina Dressler.

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.

8 | Travel

5 - 11 February 2013

n Boasting 77 different city neighborhoods, Chicago is a 24/7 feast of food, culture and entertainment. SHARON SPENCE LIEB discovers the mayhem and the magic of this modern city.

During a 1939 lecture, architect Frank Lloyd Wright told his audience, “Eventually I think that Chicago will be the most beautiful city left in the modern world.”

I’ve always loved Chicago. From 1979-1992, I lived and worked happily there in advertising, public relations, TV, and video production.

I met and married my soul mate, Warren Lieb.

Cherishing my Chicago memories, I wondered if I could vacation in my former home? Lucky for me, my sister Diana Schuster lives in Chicago’s suburbs, and is moving downtown. So she offered to show me her favourite corners of The Windy City.

Arriving downtown on a winter day, Chicago’s famous skyline is shrouded in her grey winter blanket. But inside The Fairmont Millennium Park, all is beautiful and bright. The elegant lobby welcomes with soft leather couches, gleaming marble, and bronze sculptures.

“Welcome to urban Paradise,” Diana says, opening the door to our spectacular room #1610. Serene and spacious, our guestroom has magnificent city views, plush robes, soft floral photographs, and a huge bathroom stocked with rose scented soaps and lotions.

“Let’s never leave,” I joke.

Ten minutes later, we’ve checked into the hotel’s Spa. “Ready for your Indonesian Body Ritual?” asks Fabienne Carson.

“Guests say it’s amazing.”

We take a eucalyptus steam, and then nap on leather chaise lounges in the Relaxation room. Time suspends.

Our only agenda: transforming into sensual Spa Queens.

Therapists Elizabeth Toole and Amy O’Brien escort us to separate treatment rooms. Diana and I smile and wave goodbye.

“Cocktails at six,” I grin.

Elizabeth exfoliates my dry skin,

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

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applies a mud mask, and wraps me like a burrito. I forget my name, forget where I am, just float away.

After a shower, my skin feels baby soft. Elizabeth massages jasmine lotion onto my body and voilà!

Happiness.

Later that evening over cocktails and sushi at The Fairmont’s stylish Aria bar, I ask Diana, “How was your treatment?”

“Slice of heaven,” she sighs.

“Nurturing, soothing. My skin is glowing, I’m calm and all the stress is gone.”

“Eighty minutes of Bliss,” I add.

Our Chicago vacation is already a ten. Should we head out to see the city lights? Not tonight. We’re asleep in our divine room by 9pm.

The Fairmont is wonderfully situated in Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighbourhood.

Walk to Grant and Millennium Parks, designer shopping on Michigan Avenue’s “Magnificent Mile,” and my favourite American art museum, The Art Institute of Chicago.

We leisurely browse classic paintings, like Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom, Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, and the charming Two Sisters, by PierreAuguste Renoir. We’re awed by Marc Chagall’s America Windows, Salvador Dali’s Venus de Milo with Drawers, and exquisite Buddhas from India and Thailand.

Standing before Ganesh, the Hindu Elephant god who overcomes all obstacles, I offer my thanks.

“Thank you for bringing me back to Sweet Home Chicago,” I say.

Two nights at the lovely Fairmont and we decide to move a few miles to Chicago’s busy Financial district, for two nights at the JW Marriott.

Occupying legendary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham’s historic Continental & Commercial National Bank Building, the JW Marriott

Travel | 9

AustralianTimes.co.uk

eager to help with theatre tickets, dinner reservations, and printing airline boarding passes.

“Do you know you’re a ten minute walk from Macy’s, DFW Shoes, Ann Taylor, and about 100 shops?” she asked. Amazing how quickly Spa Queens turn into Shopping Goddesses.

Get More Travel

AustralianTimes.co.uk/travel

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opened in November 2010. Exuding classical elegance, this friendly hotel offers 610 luxurious guestrooms, an Italian Steakhouse, and Valeo, a 20,000-square foot spa and wellness center with an authentic Turkish hamman, and swank indoor pool.

We loved dining in the hotel’s relaxing lobby lounge, nibbling on Maine lobster spring rolls, Kobe beef tenderloin sliders, and triple chocolate fudge brownies.

The cheerful hotel Concierge was

Diana and I were energized by Chicago’s vitality and panache.

At The Shedd Aquarium, we applauded dolphins and beluga whales, oohed over leafy sea dragons, laughed at adorable penguins and otters, and photographed giant jellyfish. At SkyDeck Chicago, we rode the high speed elevator up 103 floors to see the bird’s eye view of Chicago from 1, 353 feet.

“There’s Soldier Field, The Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry,” I called out to Diana.

“And Lake Michigan, where I sailed with Warren.

Only Diana could lure me onto The Ledge, the clear glass box attached to the outside of the building. Look straight down if you dare, for a fabulous adrenaline rush.

Boasting 77 different city neighbourhoods, Chicago is a 24/7 feast with every ethnic cuisine on the planet. At Mercadito, we loved the spicy guacamole, spectacular mahi mahi tacos, and the “we’re happy forever now” strawberry margaritas.

One of Chicago’s coolest hotels is the swank Radisson Blu Aqua hotel, boasting serene guestrooms, outdoor balconies with amazing city views, and every amenity known to man.

The Radisson’s Filini Restaurant is electric with the city’s global deal makers dining on grilled prawn salad and chocolate lava cake.

Who said you can’t go home again?

Our Chicago vacation was magic.

And I can’t wait to go back.

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Be enchanted by the mystery of Venice as the locals don elaborate masks while celebrating the festivities of Carnival.

The famous canals come alive with street parties, costumes and celebrations during this unique festival.

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This discount can be combined up to a maximum of 20% using one standard brochure discount with the exception of the ‘Early Payment Option’. Please contact our friendly team for further details. The discount does not apply to Food Fund or pre/post accommodation. Normal cancellation conditions apply. Topdeck reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. See online for full terms and conditions.

10 | Jobs & Money

5 - 11 February 2013

Dollar Review

Local data saves Aussie Dollar

By Jesse Crooks

THE Australian Dollar looked poised to have a winning week when it opened at 1.514 against the British Pound last Monday, before strengthening to a high for the week of 1.501 on Tuesday.

The early week strength was attributed to an increase in the global appetite for risk on the back of a number of positive events worldwide, which enhanced the goodwill brought on by solid local data. Gains were felt against most of its 16 top trading peers as business confidence in the country experienced the biggest month-on-month increase since October 2001.

By Thursday, however, the week’s gains had been erased after Chinese manufacturing data disappointed investors.

Westpac’s Jonathan Cavenagh said of the Aussie, “Chinese manufacturing data was not a disastrous result but definitely weaker than what the market was looking for.

It would certainly take the shine off of Aussie Dollar”.

The New Zealand Dollar, however, reached the highest it has been against the Aussie currency since August 2011 after the nation announced it would focus on reducing its budget deficit. This made the Kiwi more desirable to investors at a time when policy strategy is of utmost importance to them.

The Australian Dollar found some support though ahead of this week’s release of the country’s balance of trade numbers Many economists predict the balance of payments to have shrunk considerably since November. This should also encourage the Reserve Bank to keep its cash rate unchanged.

Exchange rates GBP/AUD: 1.507 EUR/AUD: 1.305 USD/AUD: 1.041 NZD/AUD: 1.231 08:04 GMT, 4 February 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.

A healthy Ruby year to you 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.

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RUBY UK, a network for professional women, kicked off its first event for the year with the theme, “New Year, New You”. Hosted at Whole Foods Market, Camden members were treated to a variety of organic, vegan and natural foods to kickstart their morning. A unique experience where Aussie women could exchange ideas, share knowledge and become inspired.

On the morning of 30 January, 2013, Camden was abuzz with the raucous laughter of Aussie women on a mission.

A mission to find out how a healthy mind and body can help them maintain their busy lifestyles. In collaboration with organic and natural suppliers, Ruby UK members enjoyed a Cook’s tour through healthy “hotspots”. Granola with yoghurt, fresh juices and vegan mousse were some of the treats on offer. While not to everyone’s taste, it was a morning of healthy food experimentation and information.

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Image by Elly Mac

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A healthy life involves more than the food you put in your mouth. Over tea and coffee, Chantali from Whole Foods Market, presented a short workshop on deep breathing. Deep breathing means using your abdomen, chest and shoulders – expanding and contracting to release bodily tension and toxins.

When it comes to breathing, quality over quantity is the winning formula. Longer, deeper breathes rather than short, shallow breaths help you relax, focus and keep mentally alert.

Polly Noble, a Holistic Health Coach, spoke about the importance of healthy living from a personal perspective.

Noble, a survivor of cancer, advocates small changes and conscious eating.

Being aware of what you put into your body increases your quality of life and gives you the stamina to achieve your goals. Noble’s recommendation: focus on green and organic foods and reduce reliance on processed foods. Natural sources of vitamins and minerals can nurture the body and minimise the risk of disease.

Ruby UK launched on 4 September last year, with a reception at Australia House. The event was in support of the charity Dress For Success, which assists disadvantaged women find employment.

Ruby UK is the sister of the successful

Ruby Connection in Australia with over 23,000 members. The all female board is made up of representatives from Westpac, Robert Walters, Julia Ross, Hays, the Government of South Australia, HiFx, BDO, Aussiepreneurs and Australian Business.

So what is your healthy 2013 goal?

With a firm commitment to a healthy 2103, many of the Ruby UK Board members have shared their 2013 goals.

Sharing goals is one way of connecting and inspiring each other to success. You can also share and commit to your 2013 goals on the Ruby UK Facebook page.

Aussie women can connect with and find out more about Ruby UK on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook: Facebook.com/ rubyuknetwork.

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

Find out more at www.astutecd.com.

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Sport | 11

AustralianTimes.co.uk

Emotional Michael Clarke wins AB Medal AN emotional Michael Clarke has joined his captaincy predecessor Ricky Ponting as the only four-time winners of the Allan Border Medal, taking the award for the second straight year.

The 31-year-old choked back tears after winning Australian cricket’s top individual prize at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Monday night.

Clarke polled 198 votes, ahead of joint runners-up Mike Hussey and two-time winner Shane Watson, who each polled 165 votes.

“No doubt it’s an honour,” Clarke said.

“It’s something that every player individually strives for every year.

“But again the most important thing for me is that this team continues to have success.

“Without my teammates, my family, my friends, I wouldn’t be standing here.

“It is always very special to receive an individual award but I guess the

most important award we can achieve as a team is to be the No.1 team in this country and in the world.”

He also thanked Ponting and Hussey.

Predictably, Clarke also comfortably won the Test cricketer of the year award for the second straight time, scoring 1080 runs at 77.14 in the nine Tests covered by the voting period which stretched from February 25 last year to January 28 this year.

Hussey, retired from Test cricket and dumped from the one-day side, was also runner-up in that format.

But given Clarke does not play Twenty20 internationals and the AB Medal covers all three formats, he was no certainty to take the top prize.

Watson was 87 votes clear of Clarke after comfortably winning the T20 award and also polling well for the one-day honour, which was won

by Victorian paceman Clint McKay, with Clarke sixth.

But Clarke blitzed the field in the

Test count and given each Test match vote is worth twice as much as those for one-dayers and three times that for T20s, it was enough for the main honour.

Earlier, recalled international toporder batsman Phil Hughes, who moved from NSW to South Australia in the off-season, was named the domestic player of the year.

Queensland and Brisbane Heat 23-year-old batsman Joe Burns was convincingly voted the Bradman young cricketer of the year.

Jess Cameron won the Belinda Clark Award as the nation’s top female player.

Glenn McGrath, whose 563 Test wickets are more than any other paceman in history, was inducted to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, along with Charlie Turner, who took 101 wickets in 17 Tests between 1887 and 1895.

By Sam Lienert in Melbourne

Giants breakthrough for AFL Europe Continued from p12...

from overseas. He said Bang would train with the club and also play in the GWS Giants in the NEAFL. “AFL Europe has done a lot of work building the code across the continent and we think Aksel is deserving of an opportunity to further his skills and education in the game,” Matthews said.

Head Coach Kevin Sheedy said he was delighted to bring a player from Denmark to the Giants. The club has formed several partnerships in Europe including the South East London Giants, the North Leinster Giants (Ireland), the Zaprude Giants (Croatia) and the Skåne Giants (Sweden).

“We have an obligation to invest in talented players wherever they may be around the world if we want to truly develop our game internationally,” Sheedy said.

“As someone who did national service himself, I look forward to learning more about Aksel and his experience in Afghanistan. I am sure our players will as well and he will learn a lot from spending time at an AFL club.”

General Manager of AFL Europe Ben

MacCormack thanked the Giants for giving Bang an opportunity to develop his game at an elite level in Australia.

“He has come a long way in a short space of the time in our game and no doubt in years to come there will be more players like him heading to Australia to chase their dream of becoming an AFL player,” MacCormack told Australian Times.

“This is an amazing opportunity for one of our best European talents. Aksel has learnt the game in Denmark and been involved in our talent programs in the last two years. We are very thankful to GWS Giants and in particular international visionaries Kevin Sheedy and David Mathews for supporting our efforts in highlighting the talent that exists in Europe. No doubt future years will see many more Aksel Bang’s heading to Australia chasing the dream of becoming an AFL footballer,” MacCormack said.

Aksel’s excitement at the announcement couldn’t be hidden.

“This opportunity means a lot to me! It’s a dream come true for me. It’s not only a great opportunity for me to become a better footy player but also a great chance to make the Australians realise

EXPLOSIVE: Danish prospect Bang gets big break with Giants. that footy is growing in Europe and we are developing some great players far away from Australia under some hard conditions because the sport isn’t very big over here yet. But because it’s a great game and people over here love it so much we have a great training culture and improve our skills every year. It’s a great honour for me to go down to Australia and represent Danish and European footy.”

Spring is in the air for the Tag Rugby community WITH the Try Tag Rugby winter competitions hitting the halfway mark this week, the talk on everyone’s lips in the London Tag Rugby community is about the upcoming spring season. The season where the trees are green, the birds are chirping, there’s more daylight and Easter is just around the corner.

What’s not to like about spring.

The spring season commences on 3 March at 11 venues across the capital, with an anticipated record spring season of over 100 teams expected to take part. With a large number of teams set to return from their winter breaks, places at some venues will be extremely tight and will run at full capacity.

Spring competition registrations are now open with leagues taking place at the following venues: Balham, Barnes, Bermondsey, Borough, Finsbury Park, Highbury, Rotherhithe, Shoreditch Park, Southfields, Tooting Bec and White City.

In other news, Try Tag Rugby will be hosting their first referees workshop of the year

on 23 February at Clapham Common. The referee workshop will be a chance for new referees to put their skills into practice and to up skill existing referees. If you would like to join the Try Tag Rugby refereeing ranks, please email info@trytagrugby.com Registrations are also now open for Try Tag Rugby’s first one day festival of the year, the 2nd annual Wasps 2012 Wasps Tag Rugby Festival Tag Rugby Festival to be held champions The Chargers will defend at Twyford Avenue Sports their title in April. ground in Acton on 6 April.

With three Irish Rugby clubs the Southfield Sharks all looking to (Leinster, Munster and Ulster) in challenge for the trophy. action in London on that weekend, New team and individual we are expecting some touring Irish registrations for Try Tag Rugby are Tag Rugby sides to challenge the welcome, and it is a great chance to London sides for the title. develop a network of friends if you In the inaugural Wasps Tag Rugby are new to London. festival last year, the Chargers of Finsbury Park were crowned “best in If you would like to register for a the west” by surviving the tournament spring league or for the Wasps Tag undefeated. This year, there will be Rugby festival, go to trytagrugby.com more teams in action with home side or email info@trytagrugby.com for team Tumeke, the Tagquila Shots and more details.

Sheens to check out England’s offerings at Club Challenge match Continued from p12...

Thomond Park rugby union ground in Limerick.

“We’ve not been to Ireland before so it’s important to become familiar with what awaits us,” Sheens told AAP. “How far the hotel is from the ground, whether the training pitches that have been allocated to us are up to standard, that kind of thing.

“By going there early, any changes we might want to suggest can be done now rather than getting there and finding it’s not what we want.

“We’ve obviously been to Manchester before and also London so that is not so much of an issue, but it’s important that we leave no stone unturned as the pressure will be on us to win the World Cup.” The four-time premiershipwinning coach is still keen to get back into the NRL after the World Cup campaign but said prising the trophy from the hands of the Kiwis would rank among the highlights of his 27-year career.

“When I took the job in 2009, I said my target was to have all of the trophies in our cabinet, after the 2013 World Cup,” he said.

AAP Image/Robb Cox

“We have the Four Nations and now we want the World Cup. We are expected to win it and the pressure is all on us.

“New Zealand are technically the holders, but it will us who’ll be favourites and we have to deal with that. But we have the issue of the Anzac Test to deal with first in Canberra in April.

“England have shown in the past on their home soil they are very hard to beat when they play us and New Zealand.

“I know (coach) Steve McNamara has been planning for the last two years for this and they’ll be very difficult opponents.”

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SPRING IS IN THE AIR

Record tag season predicted P11

n

Canberra enforcer David Shilling and former Broncos forward Petero Civoniceva have backed the rugby league All Stars concept after its future was questioned.

NRL ALL STARS SET TO SHINE

By Laine Clark WHEN Canberra Raiders enforcer David Shillington ran out in the inaugural 2010 All Stars clash, he looked forward to a “cruisey” game.

How times have changed.

Three years later the Queensland star forward has not only backed the game’s relevance ahead of this weekend’s unofficial NRL season opener in Brisbane but also its timing.

Shillington was mobbed along with NRL and Indigenous All Stars team members in Ipswich west of Brisbane on Monday as both sides kicked off their countdown to Saturday night’s

showcase event at Suncorp Stadium.

He found it hard to believe the event’s future was in doubt after reports emerged that a pre-season nines tournament tipped to kick off in New Zealand next year could steal its thunder.

“Just looking around you can see what impact this has on the local community. If a nines tournament does come along it would be a shame to see this go,” he told AAP. “This game means a lot. It may not be a State of Origin game or a Test match. But it is picked by the fans and players want to be a part of it.

“I played in the first game and I was stunned at how passionately

they (Indigenous team) came out - I thought it might be a cruisey game but they put it on us.

“But now we not only know how passionately they play and also what it means to people.”

Even before the nines tournament was mooted for 2014, the timing of the All Stars clash had been questioned especially after Melbourne’s Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk withdrew to ensure their availability for the World Club Challenge in England.

NRL ambassador and former Broncos forward Petero Civoniceva threw around the possibility of the game being

held at the end of the year but believed it was best suited as a season opener.

“It is tricky, but we are dealing with a few issues. There are guys coming back from rehab, guys being eased into the year after a break,” he told AAP. “No doubt everyone would want to see guys like Cronk and Slater play but hopefully we can introduce the next superstar in their place this weekend.

“And we already have a pretty full calendar as it is, so where do you slot it in if not at the start of the year.

“But if you speak to the majority of the boys it is a very popular way to start the season.”

Dane Bang on for the Giants

IN Europe’s biggest breakthrough yet, the Greater Western Sydney Giants have offered an international scholarship to young Danish AFL player Aksel Bang, who will visit Sydney to train and play with the Giants this year.

The 21 year-old has just started six months national service with the Danish army in Afghanistan and will travel to Sydney during his scheduled break in April/May. After visiting Australia and seeing his first match two years ago he now plays for the Aalborg Kangaroos and Danish Vikings and was the leading player in the 2012 Euro Cup in Edinburgh. Proving to be a tough and explosive midfielder in the European ranks, he is very excited to continue his football education with the Giants.

Giants Chief Executive David Matthews said it was a great opportunity to further develop talent ...continued on p11

Club Challenge test for RLWC

SKIPPER TAKES TOP HONOUR

Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke choked back tears on accepting his fourth Allan Border Medal | P11

AUSSIE CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Captain Michael Clarke celebrates after winning the 2013 Allan Border Medal, on Monday. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Australian coach Tim Sheens will step up preparations for the Rugby League World Cup when he flies to the UK and Ireland later this month.

Having been axed by the NRL’s Wests Tigers last year, Sheens can give his full attention to the Kangaroos’ campaign to regain the trophy that eluded Australia on home soil in the 2008 final against New Zealand.

Sheens will take in the World Club Challenge clash between Leeds and Melbourne at Headingley on 22 February.

He says this will give him an early opportunity to check several of the players who’ll make up the England team Australia will face in the tournament opener at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 26 October.

The 63-year-old will then fly to Ireland where Australia play their last group game at ...continued on p11