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Turbulent Eeriness

9 Nov

The people have decided… this hauntingly evocative photo, “Graveyard”, taken by Julie Fletcher at Menindee Lakes in new South Wales, has won the People’s Choice Award in the ANZANG Nature Photography Competition at the South Australia Museum. […]

SNAG or Misogynist?

9 Oct

Margie Abbott says her husband “gets women” – but Prime Minister Julia Gillard begs to differ. “Do you want to know how God turns a man into a feminist?” the Australian opposition leader’s wife asked in a speech in Sydney. “He gives him three daughters… I’m not a politician and I’m not political – but just don’t ever try and tell me that my husband of 24 years and the father of three daughters is on some anti-women crusade. It’s simply not true. Tony Abbott gets women and… the women in Tony Abbott’s life certainly get him.”

Four days later, Gillard’s feisty response in Parliament, attacking Abbott’s burgeoning history of hypocrisy, left him looking more awkwardly SMUG than touchy-feely Sensitive New Age Guy.

 

 

Island Paradise for Aussies

23 Sep

Stacey Keating celebrates with caddie/boyfriend Darren Peters

Australian Nikki Garrett made a scorching start to the 2012 Tenerife Open de España Femenino but it was compatriot Stacey Keating who eventually left Golf Las Américas with the main silverware. […]

Symbolist Spirit

17 Aug

Spirit of the Plains (1897)

A retrospective exhibition of one of Australia’s foremost Art Nouveau artists is on show at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Born in Goulburn in 1871, Long studied in Sydney before gaining prominence in the Symbolist movement in the late 19th century – creating haunting images of the Australian landscape, frequently featuring mythical creatures. […]

Marathon Effort for Charity

28 Jul

Juana Criado from Málaga led the women home in the 2012 Australian Outback Marathon held in the desert around Uluru (Ayers Rock) as part of a trans-continental fund-raising initiative promoted by the Real Club Mediterráneo Málaga.

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Marking Time

10 Jul

He went close to a first world championship title in 2010 (On the Grid) and Mark Webber is once again well-placed to become only the third Australian to lift Formula 1’s ultimate trophy.

After finishing third in the driver’s championship in 2010 and 2011, Webber moved up to second behind 2012 pacesetter Fernando Alonso with his victory in the British Grand Prix. It was his second win of the season, after Monaco, and soon after he ended speculation about signing for Ferrari next year by renewing his contact with Red Bull for at least one more season.

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The Dingo Did It?

12 Jun

An appeal has been lodged in the Northern Territory Supreme Court against a coroner’s ruling that a dingo was responsible for Azaria Chamberlain’s death 32 years ago. […]

Diamond Fiesta Cuts Raw Nerve

5 Jun

Splendid pageantry… or obsolete pomp? Two differing views of the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee – and (at least in Australia’s case) the more pressing and pertinent issue of republicanism.

Michael McGuire: No crowning glory in right royal farce (The Punch)

Jeremy Paxman: We’re all monarchists now – even me (The Telegraph)

Celebrations… Australian-Style

27 May

Mark Webber back-flipped into his team’s harbour-side pool after holding off a high-powered tail of five top rivals over the final laps of the Monaco Grand Prix. The 35-year-old Red Bull driver started from pole and controlled the race brilliantly to become the first Australian to win twice in Monte Carlo, following his 2010 victory.

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The World of Seve

16 May

Seve Ballesteros champion in 1991 (Photo by Stephen Munday Getty Images)

One year after his death, the memory of Seve Ballesteros is being kept alive at an event he won five times. For many of the players competing in the Volvo World Golf Championship at Finca Cortesín – especially the three Spaniards, Sergio García, Álvaro Quirós and Rafael Cabrera-Bello – Seve’s record when the tournament was held at Wentworth remains an inspiration. […]