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30 October - 5 November 2012 – Issue: 436

TALKINGTEA

When good cups go bad

PENICHE PANACHERiding the wave

in Portugal

Nation owes debt to terror victims: AbbottThe nation owes a debt to Australian victims of overseas terrorism and they should be compensated retrospectively, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.

earlier this year, there was bipartisan support for changes to existing laws to compensate victims of overseas terrorism attacks.

Mr Abbott has moved a private members bill to have the compensation made retrospective and available to Australians caught up in terrorist attacks in Bali, Jakarta, Mumbai, London and New York.

“I say to the government and I say this free of any partisan rancour, do the right thing by those 300 Australians who have suffered as a result of overseas terrorism,” he told parliament on Monday.

“If this is right for people who might suffer in the future, it is surely right for the people who have already suffered.”

If all 300 victims were compensated with $80,000 each, the total cost to the government would be $30 million.

The amount was not insignificant but very modest in the scheme of

...continued on p3

AUSSIE FILM

Taking a bite out of the

Chinese market

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

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UP THERE FOR LONDONWe interview Luke Dahlhaus and Jackson Trengove ahead of this week’s AFL spectacular at the KIA Oval | P10-11

asian studies to form core part of school curriculum

...continued on p3

By Adam Gartrell

PrIMe MINIsTer Julia Gillard is calling on all Australians to do what they can to ensure the nation is an economic and employment “winner” in the Asian century.

Ms Gillard on sunday unveiled the government’s long-awaited Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, which sets out a series of ambitious goals to boost prosperity through closer engagement and integration with the rapidly rising region.

“It is not enough to rely on luck,” she said.

“Our future will be determined by the choices we make and how we engage with the region we live in.

“We must build on our strengths and take active steps to shape our future.”

The 312-page paper aims to serve as a roadmap not only for government but for businesses, unions and the broader community as Asia’s rise transforms the global economic and political order.

It sets out 25 national objectives to 2025, covering improvements in productivity, skills, education, Asian language capabilities and cultural ties, requiring concerted and co-ordinated efforts.

Ms Gillard urged Australia to shed its “economic cringe” and embrace the region’s unstoppable rise with confidence.

“Can we be a winner in the Asian century? Absolutely, we can get it done,” she said.

The paper predicts average annual wages could rise by $11,000 to $73,000 by 2025 as Australia moves into the top 10 countries in gross domestic product (GDP) per person.

It also sets the goal of increasing the value of Australia’s trade with Asia to one-third of national GDP by 2025, up from about one-quarter currently.

The paper places a heavy emphasis on education, saying Asian studies will become a core part of the Australian school curriculum and every student will have the opportunity to study Mandarin, hindi, Indonesian or Japanese.

The nation’s leaders will also be expected to be more Asia literate, with one-third of board members of the top 200 publicly listed companies and commonwealth bodies to have “deep experience” in and knowledge of Asia.

The government will also expand its Australia Awards scheme to Asian nations over the next five years to promote people-to-people links with the region, make it easier for low-risk visitors to come to Australia and to attract more tourists from China and other key Asian markets.

The paper outlines plans to open more diplomatic missions, once “circumstances allow”.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott welcomed the thrust of the paper, but said it lacked funding and specific detail.

“My fear is unless the government can do more to boost our domestic economy, inevitably we are going to be left behind,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Abbott’s deputy, Julie Bishop, said the paper was disappointing and appeared as if it had been rewritten by a “posse of Labor spin doctors”.

But most business and education groups welcomed the paper’s vision,

30 October - 5 November 20122 | News

Explaining the English: Aunt Mabel reveals all

Fun Facts

???

??

How much of London’s Underground is actually underground?The Underground is the world’s first major underground metropolitan transport network, yet over 55% of today’s system of interconnecting railways actually resides ‘above’ ground. The Victoria line is the only line completely underground. The Tube first opened in 1863 with a stretch of track consisting of six stations (now 270 stations) between Paddington and Farringdon, part of present day Metropolitan line. Initially conceived of as a philanthropic gesture to assist Londoners move for free around an increasingly congested metropolis, it now carries over one billion passengers a year - for a cost.

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

Publisher: Bryce LowryEditor: Alex IvettProduction/Design: Jackie LampardSports Editor: Tim MartinContributors: Shannon Crane, Sara Newman, Phill Browne, Paul Judge, Rose Callaghan, Lesley Slade, Simon Kleinig, Kris Griffiths, Sepi Roshan, Erin Somerville, Melissa Shortal, Justin Ng, Gareth Mohen, Shane Jones, George Katralis, Cameron Jenkins, Chris Ark,

Will Denton, Lee Crossley, Phoebe Lee, Mel Edwards, Will Fitzgibbon, Bronwyn Spencer, Rebekka Hodges, Emily Banyard, Clare Boyd-Maccrae, Jonathon Waldheim, Paul Bleakley, Daniel Shillito, Mat Lyons, Sharon Spence Lieb, Nicole Crowley

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The fuTure of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast has fallen under a cloud, with the Queensland state government refusing to rule out the possibility of relocating several major events to Brisbane in an effort to reduce the costs associated with hosting the competition.

former Gold Coast City Council Mayor and Olympic legend ron Clarke claims that the planned relocation of key Commonwealth Games events to existing facilities in Brisbane would be “the ruin of the Games” and would make the Gold Coast “an appendage rather than the main venue”. Clarke was a key member of the successful bid team that won the right to host the Commonwealth Games during his previous tenure as the city’s mayor.

Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister Jan stuckey, a Gold Coast based member of parliament, did not reject Clarke’s accusations and does not deny that plans are being considered to hold swimming events on the outskirts of Brisbane rather than investing in an upgrade of facilities on the Gold Coast.

The potential appropriation of the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games by the state capital has provoked outrage, with community anger largely directed at recently elected Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, whose alleged lack of commitment to providing council funding and securing critical infrastructure is being blamed for compromising the city’s ability to host the 2018 Games.

former Gold Coast City Councillor and Mayoral candidate susie Douglas told Australian Times that community feeling on the Gold Coast is that Mayor Tate is concentrating on projects that have no relevance to the Games and that infrastructure projects such as the athletes village and swimming pool have been put in the ‘too hard basket’ by the Council.

“We are the sixth largest city in Australia and it is time we acted like a major city and fought hard for what we need. The Games is a Gold Coast event and we must have world class facilities,” Douglas said.

relocating gold Coast events would be “ruin of the games” says olympic legendn Allegations of a lack of commitment from Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to the 2018 Commonwealth Games sparks fears key events could be moved to Brisbane PAUL BLEAKLEY reports.

“I think the Mayor is misreading community opinion on this issue. The Commonwealth Games announcement attracted tens of thousands of people to a public event. I’m not seeing this level of support for his “five” casinos idea.”

Tate has been a vocal advocate for an increase in the number of casinos on the Gold Coast since his election early this year, with plans to build these facilities in both the city’s central business district and on the popular Wavebreak Island.

Tate has also proceeded with long-debated plans to build a cruise-ship terminal on the Gold Coast, earlier this month committing $1.7 million to the project despite public pressure to scrap plans that community groups claim will destroy the environment and forever alter the city’s coastline.

Douglas said: “The council has not been neglecting its duties, they merely seem to have the wrong priorities. residents wanted their council to address the basics whereas the new council is currently diverted on trying to build such things as a cruise ship terminal. Correctly they need to look long term with a vision that builds real permanent jobs and lots of them.

“(Mayor Tate) needs to rebuild confidence that the council can do their job.”

Tate’s management of the Gold Coast City Council has been described as ‘arrogant’ by many community leaders in recent months, with the Gold Coast Bulletin recently blacklisting the mayor and refusing to mention his name in print until he made an effort to respond to public concerns about his agenda.

editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin Peter Gleeson wrote: “It seems anyone who disagrees with Cr Tate is dismissed as irrelevant. The reality is that Cr Tate must be held accountable and that’s our job.

“Today we take the unprecedented step of not recognising his power

and influence.”The danger of many

Commonwealth Games events being held in Brisbane rather than on the Gold Coast in 2018 is heightened by the city council’s inability to negotiate with the Queensland state government in regards to funding for the upcoming 2014 Pan-Pacific Games.

While swimming events were intended to be held at a redeveloped southport Pool on the Gold Coast, squabbling between council and the state government has led to the competition being moved to the ageing Chandler swimming Complex on the outskirts of Brisbane.

Concern over the cost of hosting the Games comes at a difficult time for the Queensland state government, with recently elected Liberal-National Party Premier Campbell Newman attempting to deliver on his mandate to slash the state budget and eliminate unnecessary financial expenditure. This cost-cutting has resulted in significant redundancies within the public service and has attracted criticism from unions.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

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How much of London’s Underground is actually underground?

Continued from p1...

Continued from p1...

White paper will ensure australia “a winner in the asian century”: Gillardwhile warning the challenge would be its implementation.

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) called for political bipartisanship on Australia’s approach to Asia and highlighted the crucial leadership role to be played by industry in building links.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Peter Anderson applauded the government’s initial steps, even though the paper often stated the “bleeding obvious”.

The Australian Industry Group was disappointed there was no mention of workplace reform.

National farmers’ federation president Jock Laurie said the paper recognised major opportunities in Asian markets for the farming sector in food and agricultural know-how.

educators liked the skills and training focus of the paper, saying the government must overhaul education funding and foreign student visa provisions. - AAP

AustralianTimes.co.uk/news

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By Alex Ivett

A 3D comedy-horror flick about a group of attractive strangers trapped in a tsunami flooded supermarket being chased and slowly eaten by a Great White shark – how could it fail to pull punters? Not least because amidst all the mid-air devouring of hapless victims and needless animal sacrificing of cute puppies to distract the hungry shark, there is a love story. Awwww.

Yet, somehow, this perfect ‘tsunami’ of combined genres (and the added star quality of Julian McMahon) has failed to attract Australian audiences to the Gold Coast-shot Bait 3D since its Aussie release on 20 september, bringing in only $1 million at the local box office. But, fear not investors of $25 million in Bait’s production – there is another market hungry for your depiction of pointy teeth and flailing limbs amongst the floating rice bubbles boxes of the cereal aisle.

In less than two weeks of hitting the screens of Chinese cinemas, Bait has become the most successful Australian film ever released to the Chinese market, almost making back its budget in no time with $20 million in takings. Compared to other recent Australian releases in China, this is a phenomenon worthy of attention. With Happy Feet 2 garnering only $6 million, and James Cameron’s Sanctum earning $10.5 million, predictions of $25 million earnings are something to celebrate.

Combined with the popular appeal this film is enjoying in Russia, Italy and Malaysia (despite going straight to DVD in the us), producers are estimating

3D Aussie shark-horror flick unexpected success in Chinan The surprising popularity of Australian comedy-horror film Bait 3D in China is leading commentators to wonder – is China the key to cinematic success for the Australian film market?

it will ultimately take in around $45 million worldwide.

What’s the secret then? Does the key to Australian cinema success therefore lie in the overseas market, or more specifically, the Chinese market? Or is it more that the unique combination of rogue shark and flooded supermarket holds some particular appeal to viewers not brought up on a daily news diet of shark attacks of our country’s coastline?

Karl Quinn, entertainment reporter for The Age, notes it may be the impressive rate with which cinema is being embraced in China. With the number of cinema screens increasing from just 1500 in 2002 to more than 10,000 today – there’s just way more places to watch films. China is now the third largest film market in the world, at $2 billion, behind the us and Japan. Australia in contrast is ninth.

It may also be that the film itself is an official Australia-Singapore co-production, with Chinese sources contributing about $5 million to its budget. Although this required the sign off of Chinese censors for approval, they seemed to have no problems with the love story/horror flick format.

further tailoring to the Chinese audience also meant toning down the Australian accents of the actors, after foreign distributors have provided feedback that the Australian accent is not always as warmly embraced overseas as at home. The result – on opening weekend alone 1.18 million Chinese were seen heading in to get their shark-bait fix in the cinemas.

So, for future filmmakers out there, the key to success is not dancing penguins, but flesh hungry sharks trapped in unexpected locations with a bunch of flawed yet plucky youngsters ready to battle it out by the checkout counter. Just make sure they don’t sound too Australian.

a federal government, the opposition leader said.

Mr Abbott, who was in Bali after the 2005 bombings and helped at sanglah hospital, said the matter was personal, not political for him after staying in contact with many of the victims.

“I’m moving this way because I believe it’s right but because of the personal experience and the personal contact I’ve had with some of the victims in terrorism,” he said.

“Many of them have suffered financially, all of them have suffered physically and psychologically.”

The victims had been targeted because they were Australian.

“They were targeted because they were citizens of a country where

people are free to choose their own way of life and choose which God we wish to worship,” Mr Abbott said.

The proposed scheme would be comparable to the assistance ordinarily available to victims of domestic crime under state and territory laws.

The Labor government acted earlier this year to pass legislation that set up a WorkCover-style compensation scheme for future Australian victims of terrorism overseas.

Labor MP shayne Neumann pointed out that those victims of previous terrorism acts, back to the september 11, 2001 attack in the us, had already been compensated, on a case-by-case, ex gratia basis.

This included family support, funeral and bereavement costs, travel costs, and recognition of foregone wages.

“It’s not like people in the past didn’t get that sort of assistance,” Mr Neumann told parliament.

“There’s nothing as a parliament we can do to make those people return to their loved ones or end the suffering of those who still bear the scars and injuries.”

he said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had made it “crystal clear” to Mr Abbott that if there were cases in which he felt people had not received the assistance they needed, he or they should raise it with her individually.

Mr Neumann also criticised Mr Abbott for apparently not having raised the matter when he was a senior howard government minister.

“(It) goes to show his bona fides in this matter aren’t as sincere as he makes out,” Mr Neumann said. - AAP

Victims have been sufficiently compensated: Labor MP

30 October - 5 November 20124 | Voices

AustralianTimes.co.uk/voices

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£40 ticket (inc VAT) includes:Food and Drink• Australian sparkling on arrival• Australian wine and beer• Selection of canapés

Entertainment• Watch the ‘big race’ on a large screen• ‘Fashion on the Field Parade’• ‘Fashion on the Field Parade’• Fairground Game – race to win!

Prizes and Gifts• Prizes for best dressed Filly and Fellow• Australian goody bag to take home

Dress: Racing attire – hats & fascinators

BOOK ONLINE NOW!www.australianbusiness.co.ukEnquiries: 020 7099 8444Enquiries: 020 7099 8444

Tuesday 6 November 6.30pm – 9.00pmLondon’s Flemington Racecourse,

re-created at Australia House

chris’s kitchen

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port adelaide v

Western Bulldogs

saturday, novemBer 3rd, 3.30pm

the Kia oval, london, england

curtain raiser 1pm afl europe all stars islands v continent

ticKets on sale at WWW.Kiaoval.com

group BooKings 0844 847 2356M: 35, Y: 85 C: 95, M: 70 K: 30

ThIs week sees me heading to the local fishmonger for a couple of handfuls of baby clams, so I can whip up an old favorite I learnt to cook while working in Italy.

Although considered by true Italians to be a dish only eaten in summer, we’re going to throw the clams in with some warm tomato broth and fresh basil to give it a winter flavor.

Cannellini beans, small white kidney shaped energy boosting morsels, are a perfect addition. Also great in salads and casseroles, dried cannellini beans need to be soaked for 10 minutes in cold water before cooking.

Tasty clams and white bean brothThe best thing about clams is that they

require very little preparation. Just make sure they’re live when you buy them – check the shells are unbroken and stay shut tight when tapped. Give them a rinse under cold water to remove any sand or sea grass and they’re good to go!

Make sure you have a large heavy based pot before you start, and well-proportioned soup bowls to dish out this tasty broth.

What you need:• 500g live surf clams, or small black

lip mussels if clams are unavailable• 300g tinned cherry tomatoes• 2 cloves of fresh garlic• 1 tsp of dried chili flakes• extra virgin olive oil • ½ cup of white wine• 300g soaked and drained cannellini

beans

• ¼ bunch of chopped flat leaf parsley • ¼ bunch of fresh basil leaves

What to do:• heat your pan over a medium to

high heat. Add a good splash of oil. • Place the clams into the pan; be

careful, as the clams will produce steam. Add the white wine and reduce.

• Add the chili, garlic, and tomatoes and turn down the heat to a medium boil.

• Add the beans and cook for 12 mins until the beans are just soft.

• Add the basil leaves and season with freshly cracked black pepper and salt.

• remove from the heat and divide into large bowls. sprinkle over the fresh parsley and a small splash of olive oil to finish.

A few thick grilled wedges of fresh sourdough make the perfect side. enjoy!

Dear Twinings,

I have been addicted to your earl Grey Blend since the age of five. It has seen me through exams, heartbreak, and lazy sunday mornings. however, I may soon have to switch to another brand.

In Australia, the earl Grey tea packets come with a little piece of paper attached to dangle over the side of the cup. since moving to London, I have noticed they do not. A trauma free cup of tea has become a thing of the past. Scolded fingers! Tea stains on my white counter! so many dirty spoons!

I am writing to ask you to please put the paper squares back on the earl Grey, for the sake of my scalded fingers, and for all tea-drinking

mankind.

Yours affectionately,Alex

***I sent this off to Twinings about a few days ago. here’s the response I got:

“I am sorry to here about your issues with our UK format of teabags.”

so corporate. so humourless. And she spelt ‘hear’ wrong.

Quirks and queries: Alex Bruce-smith asks the locals the tough questions. Next week - an open letter to the hipsters of shoreditch

An open letter to Twinings.

Entertainment | 5AustralianTimes.co.uk

Check out what we’re following today on AustralianTimes.co.uk

and follow us on Twitter @AustralianTimes

What we’re following

Tame Impala30 October@ O2 Academy, Brixton

Darren Hanlon4 November@ Surya, London

Julia Stone 5 November @ Scala, Kings Cross

Melbourne Cup Celebration6 November@ Australia House, London

Flight Facilities8 November@Birthdays, London

Gotye12 November@ Hammersmith Apollo

Ladyhawke14 November@ London Forum

Parkway Drive17 November@ The Roundhouse

The Cat Empire10 December@ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

for full details......and more Aussie gigs go to:

AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

What’s On

Elizabeth Windsor @Queen_UKThe Queen shares her innermost thoughts with the Twitterverse

@Queen_UKHangover the size of Australia. That’s the very last time one has George Michael over for a ‘few’ cocktails.

@Queen_UKDangermouse (Mr Cameron) on the phone. Not sure what he’s saying, mainly because one’s put him on hold whilst one finishes an egg sandwich.

@Queen_UKGirls Aloud are reforming. Thank God for that. What joyous news. One simply cannot wait.

@Queen_UKAlmost entirely full of gin.

@Queen_UKOne’s name was Lola, one was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in one’s hair and a dress cut down to there... #sloshed

By Alex Ivett

There is something almost hypnotizing about the perfect wildlife photograph. One that can capture the subtle beat of a butterfly’s wings, or the slow pull of a lumbering tortoise through incandescent water. Absorbed by the minutiae of natures otherwise unseen detail, the viewer can, for one moment at least, let concerns about tube delays, work deadlines, and unpaid bills slip away, as the natural world absorbs the imagination and amazes the senses.

Now in its 48th year, the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition does just that, casting a spotlight on the natural world as rarely seen by the everyday Londoner and providing an international showcase for the best nature photography of 2012.

each year, tens of thousands of entries are received and whittled down by an international jury of photography experts to provide a receptive audience with the best of the best – a unique and rare insight into nature’s curiosities, and catastrophes, in one collection.

Presented in a sleek backlit display at the Natural history Museum, the one hundred winning images of the competition not only engage but also educate. for example, the category ‘The World in Our hands’ explores the complex and often destructive relationship people have with the natural world.

Photographs such as Anna henly’s fish-eye examination of a lone polar bear tentatively balanced on fractured sheets of ice confront the viewer with the inescapable conclusion that human actions have created this creature’s stark isolation, and precipitated his confusion with the changes wrought to his natural habitat.

Working with wildlife: Australian photographers earn global recognitionn Two Australian photographers have earned commendation in this year’s Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Their images are amongst the one hundred that have made a competitive shortlist, and are currently captivating audiences at the Natural History Museum in Kensington.

It is in this category that Australian Paul hilton’s commended photograph “The end of sharks” can be found. Capturing workers at Dong Gang fish Market in Taiwan routinely processing thousands of frozen shark fins, this photograph is a powerful reminder of how the demands of human consumption are depleting our natural resources.

Paul hilton is an Australian hong Kong-based photojournalist who focuses on global environmental and conservation issues. In 2010 he launched his first book, highlighting the global shark-fining industry, Man & Shark.

he is one of two Australians earning prestigious recognition in this global competition. Ofer Levy first embraced his passion for photography whilst working as a Biology teacher, seeing the medium as a mechanism through which to promote his love for nature and conservation.

The resulting entry, “fly-by drinking” is a captivating moment-in-time snapshot of a grey-headed flying fox as it swoops down to drink. The flying fox, Australia’s largest bat, is also one of our most vulnerable, with only around 300,000 remaining in existence. The bat is now protected, but its future remains uncertain with threats from rising temperatures, loss of habitat and human interactions challenging its existence. The unique perspective on this endangered Australian species earned Ofer a special commendation in the Gerald Durrell Award category of the competition.

The Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide. The exhibition is showing at the Natural History Museum until 3 March 2013 and is open 10.00am – 17.50 daily.

For more information and pre-purchased tickets go to www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/entertainment

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Ofer Levy / Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012

Paul Hilton / Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012

As Australians, it is engrained in our psyche that the first Tuesday of November every year means one thing only – time to watch the Melbourne Cup. “The race that stops a nation”, first held in 1861, now enjoys a global audience of 700 million and nets the winners $6.2 million. It’s a long way from that inaugural race when a plucky horse named ‘Arthur’ swept past the seventeen starters (three of whom fell during the race) to claim a prize of 710 gold sovereigns (£710 in today’s currency) and a shiny gold watch.

for those not lucky enough to live in Victoria and enjoy that elusive public holiday taken in the name of horse racing, Melbourne Cup day is usually spent in office boardrooms, crowded around a TV or radio, clutching a sweaty $2 office sweep ticket and a dry piece of quiche, revelling in a rare 30 minute break from work.

Luckily for Australians now living in London, there is a much more glamorous and exciting way to enjoy this year’s Melbourne Cup festivities. As a sporting event heralded as a premier corporate and social event, there is really only one way to celebrate – with Australian food, wine and beer watching a replay of the race

The race that stops the nation

on the big screen with fellow racing enthusiasts.

Courtesy of Australian Business, Australia house will re-create London’s very own ‘flemington racecourse’ on Tuesday 6 November. from 6.30pm Australia house will play host to over 350 people for a uK based spring Carnival, complete with a ‘fashion on the field’ parade, prizes for best dressed, Aussie goody bags and a fairground Game.

Dress in your best racing attire (winter woollen fascinators may just be the new ‘must-have’ fashion accessory) and give Camilla, Duchess of Cornwell, a run for her money as she takes all our places down under at the race itself.

This sell-out event will fill up quickly, so for more details and tickets go to

australianbusiness.co.uk

To watch the race live, tune in or stream it at 4am Tuesday 6 November.

n Embrace the glitz and glamour of the Melbourne Cup event at Australia House

To enter the draw for 2 tickets to the Melbourne Cup Celebrations at Australia House, go to AustralianTimes.co.uk/win

WINTickets

30 October - 5 November 20126 | Travel

saturday masses on Oxford street, mind the gaps between the train and platform, and duck into Marks & spencers for some of those Percy Pigs we’d missed.

travel

on thE Map

This week we’re putting

Portugal

WheN October hits and London is laced in drizzle and wrapped up in a tight grey envelope of mist and looming rain, there’s only one thing left for an Australian girl to do: find the nearest plane ticket to the sun. Or, in this case, the ripCurl Pro tour in Peniche, Portugal – just north of Lisbon.

Prepping for Peniche I did what any prepared traveller would do. I immediately downloaded the official Rip Curl Pro iPhone app (substantial start), googled the weather (a balmy 22 degrees), studied the Pro tour lingo (now fluent from ankle biters to gnarly swells) and recruited two accomplices to share the journey (both readily available to spam with Instagram photos of cute surfers until said departure date).

What one really should have done was study up on Lisbon attractions and historical landmarks, prepared for cooler weather, familiarised oneself with basic Portuguese and located a bus timetable.

The 12-day tournament began on 10 October and was generating considerable hype. Touching down on 15 October, Lisbon delivered a promising atmosphere of sunshine, clear skies and traditional terracotta rooftop homes.

however, the initial journey from

Seeking sun and sand in Peniche, Portugaln Surfers, sunshine and seaside cocktails are enough to lure any land-locked Londoner southwards. NICOLE CROWLEY goes in search of all three in the fishing town of Peniche, Portugal, with mixed success.

Currency: Euro

Biggest must: Sights from the Santa Justa Lift

Biggest miss: Lack of Peniche nightlife

the looming storm that threatened the primary venue and finally resumed on 18 October. Close up snaps of Mick fanning and Kelly slater were taken, beach mojitos were ordered and all is well that ends well with 23-year-old, Julian Wilson, claiming his title as AsP World Championship Tour winner. An Australian, naturally.

Tightening our cardigans and shredding the surf lingo, we said a final “Ola” to Peniche and got ready to once again fight the

Lisbon proved to be a mission: almost like one must proves ones worthiness to find the mythical fish town of Peniche. In full disclosure, I’m aware this sounds mildly dramatic, but when Portuguese is not a dialect you’re familiar with, even remedial tasks like purchasing a ticket seem all the more challenging.

Searching for the Surffrom the airport you take the bus (€3) to the main bus station, where the rede-express will escort your impatient self direct to Peniche. It will cost €9, but does have free Wi-fi on board. All in all, the journey is about two hours and 105km.

While this is definitely the most cost effective route – a taxi will set you back over €100 – two friends hired a car at the airport. Although this seemed elitist and unnecessary at the time, after two bus changes it is decidedly a better option.

The beach stretch of Peniche was an exciting set up of surf shacks, media tents, rip Curl stores, pop-up cocktail bars and surfboard shrines. round three of the heats wrapped up before a lay day was called due to slowing surf conditions.

It suddenly became apparent that if you weren’t heading into the surf yourself for leisure, or if you’d already had lunch and purchased a

souvenir rip Curl Pro t-shirt, then there really wasn’t very much for you to do in Peniche.

Top tip: travelling on weekdays has its downsides regarding nightlife.

Ducking out for a daytrip The next day was heralded another lay day. Perfect. even more perfectly; I woke with the fogginess of a hangover and peered through the windows to find myself in London. The sky was grey and threatening me with rain.

With little to do in Peniche – we didn’t fish, after all – Lisbon awaited. for €18, it’s worthwhile to take a tram and tour the city with a company guide. The sky had cleared (miracle!) and the city is actually sprinkled with little gems, such as the santa Justa Lift in restaurandores square. Known as the elevador do Carmo, it is a lift that connects the streets of the Baixa (the Lower Town) to the higher Carmo square where you can take in panoramic views of the entire city for €5.

The Metro – the London Tube equivalent – is made difficult due to a lack of english signs, although it’s only a short ride from Jardim Zoologica (Lisbon Zoo) to Baixa Chiado, and €3.50 for a return ticket. had I been better prepared for a Lisbon day trip, st. George’s Castle (Castelo de sao Jorge) would have definitely been worth paying a visit.

All’s well that ends wellI can’t say I was overwhelmed with a sense of local hospitality in Portugal, save for the hotel receptionist who attempted to allocate his very tipsy friend to drive me to the bus station in the wake of no taxis. however there is a definitive laidback culture and easiness to the Portuguese beach town of Peniche that made me wistful for the shores of Australia.

And while I can’t say I’ll be running back to Portugal any time soon, the rip Curl Pro did avoid

Image by nieos

Travel | 7AustralianTimes.co.uk

or grilled. Mezes are mixed appetizers designed to arouse the appetite before the main course, and are often found at meals accompanied by wine or raki. Turkish sweets are famous throughout the world, and many, such as “sutlac”, “tavuk gogsu”, “kazandibi”, “helva” and “asure” have milk as the basic ingredient. Best known are “baklava” and “kadayif” pastries.

Cappadocia Cappadocia is famed for its eerie lunar landscape, astounding underground cities and spectacular rock churches – their walls decorated with vivid Byzantine frescoes. Cappadocia seems like a lost world to the arriving traveller. It took until the 20th century – and perhaps the invention of photography – to make people appreciate this extraordinary region.

Hamam No visit to Turkey is complete without experiencing a traditional hamam – a Turkish bath. Romans were the first to use this style of bath, which was adopted by the Byzantines then the Ottomans. The hamam will open on different days for male and female or have separate facilities. Although you may find, in more touristy areas, that they will have mixed baths.

Raki Raki is the official national drink of Turkey, and is traditionally consumed either straight with chilled water on the side, or partly mixed with chilled water. Drinking raki in Turkey involves a ceremony, some traditions, and a good amount of pleasure. It is always done with friends and lots of good food. While sipping raki and nibbling meze, there’s good conversation, much humour, and many toast to your companion’s health (Afiyet olsun!) and prosperity (Serefinize!).

All Fez Travel’s tours give you some or all of the above Turkish Delights. Check out their website at www.feztravel.com

on thE Map

This week we’re putting

Turkey

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Istanbul CAPITAL of one of the world’s greatest empires for over 1,500 years, Istanbul today is a buzzing, cosmopolitan modern city. Istanbul’s diminutive but magnificent heart around Sultanahmet, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar beats to the glories of ancient Byzantium and the Ottoman empire.

A day spent shivering inside the great dome of the Aya Sofia and gawping at the ridiculous wealth of the sultans at the Topkapi palace (with diamonds the size of hen’s eggs, gem and gold encrusted thrones so gaudy they look like kids’ toys) will convince you to start shopping early. Old, new, exotic, mundane, antique, kitsch— shopping in Istanbul is all these things and more.

Ephesus Turkey plays host to some of the most significant historical sites in the world. One of these is the ruins of ephesus, which can be found along the centre of the Aegean Cost.

ephesus was not only the former home of philosophers, merchants, sportsmen, musicians and immortals, but also some of the most significant figureheads in the Christian religion such as st. John, st. Paul and the Virgin Mary. ephesus is one of the best-preserved ruins in the world, and has also played host to some of history’s most important events. The ruins of ephesus will no doubt leave you with very strong memories and thoughts of how ‘they’ used to live.

Pamukkale One of the most amazing sites you will visit in Turkey is the calcium pools of Pamukkale in Western Turkey. This natural phenomenon is said to have existed for over 2500 years. The main attraction is a vast white cliff side with scallop-shaped basins of water and frozen waterfalls. It looks as if it is made out of snow or cotton balls, hence the Turkish translation - ‘Cotton Castles’.

Great Food It is said that three major kinds of cuisine exist in the world: Turkish, Chinese, and french. fully justifying its reputation, Turkish Cuisine is always a pleasant surprise for the visitor. Kebabs are dishes of plain or marinated meat either stewed

Tantalising Turkish Delightsn Turkey is a country of surprises. Whether you’re a backpacker, ‘normal tourist’ or family package holidaymaker; interested in history, geological sites or simply relaxing on the beach – Turkey

has something to offer every type of traveller.

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PICTure this. You are on stage presenting. And then it happens. You are looking out at the audience and your mind goes blank. You look at the floor then up at the ceiling, trying desperately to remember where you were.

You had practiced consistently and memorised your presentation from start to finish. It seems like an eternity of silence has gone by. how can you avoid forgetting your presentation and what can you do if it happens?

No-one wants to forget a presentation. sometimes the fear of forgetting can be so strong that it stops people from presenting in the first place. But forgetting is natural. If we remembered every single event, experience or emotion our brains would have an infinite amount of data to sift through.

Our memory is organised in a way to help us recall what we need. The problem is, sometimes that recollection mechanism fails us. This is where speaking techniques are important.

everyone has a different way of remembering a presentation or speech. Memorising your presentation or speech word-for-word, can seem like the best way to avoid forgetting. But rote learning is generally not the most effective way of ensuring you glide through your presentation. even the simplest of distractions or memory burp can leave you wondering what comes next.

Here are some techniques you can use to minimise your risk of forgetting and to get back on track if you do:

Visualise the structure of your presentation. Approximately a quarter

forget me notof our brains are used for visual processing. This means that our brain likes to learn in pictures. Drawing a picture of the structure of your presentation in your mind can help you remember what comes next and how the pieces fit together.

Practice in similar surroundings. In this way, your brain will be familiar with doing that presentation in a similar room and recall will be easier: during the actual presentation, it will be like you have done it before. This is why when we visit our old high school, for example, we remember our school days much more vividly.

Pause to give yourself time to catch up and determine where you are going with your presentation. If you have notes, this enables you to look ahead and reacquaint yourself with the content. If you do not have notes, breathe to relax your mind so that it finds its flow.

forgetting a presentation can be distressing. With proper preparation, you can minimise the risk and glide through your presentation from start to finish.

however, if you do forget, there is no need to panic. Most of the time, the audience is on your side. People appreciate the effort it takes to prepare, practice and present. Be kind to yourself and accept that the audience is more generous that you may give them credit for.

Sepi Roshan is Director of Astute Coaching & Development, helping Professionals become fearless presenters and leaders. Find out more at www.astutecd.com

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The Australian Dollar fetched between 1.025 and 1.037 us Dollars last week and between 0.642 and 0.645 British Pounds

The week started out well for the Aussie with local inflation figures coming in at 1.4%, stronger than the predicted 1.1%, but this surge met a ceiling with investors being cautious ahead of an immanent Chinese data being released.

The Australian currency hit its peak mid-week against the us Dollar, riding on the back of the inflation figures and economic figures coming out of China which showed that the previous month’s contraction was slowing.

heading towards the end of the week the Aussie did lose some of its gains against major currencies, mainly due to negative news coming out of the eurozone, especially Spanish unemployment figures, but did manage to stay above the key 103 us cents mark. This was due to the easing of the likelihood of an

aussie dollar moves ahead

Australian reserve Bank interest rate cut.

On Monday, the Australian Dollar rallied once again, surging up another half cent after stronger than expected GDP figures buoyed market sentiment.

AUD/GBP: 0.644/1.553AUD/EUR: 0.801/1.248AUD/USD: 1.037/0.964

Exchange rates as of 09:00 UK time, 29 October 2012

Jobs & Money | 9AustralianTimes.co.uk

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n Following on from our resume writing guide we have some top tips for helping you take the next steps towards securing the job you want back home, as swiftly and painlessly as possible.

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By Elizabeth Glanville

1) Give it some thoughtIT’s easy to slip into autopilot when changing jobs, and we often stick with what we know and look for the obvious next move. This is fine if you know you’re on the right track, but if you’ve been vacillating for a while, or daydreaming about how life could be if you swapped paths, changed gear or set up on your own, then moving back home could be a golden opportunity to make that change and start on the next phase.

As well as considering what path to take, it’s worth giving some thought to technicalities, such as location and salary expectations. Although flexibility is key when relocating and job hunting, if there is anything on which you can’t - or won’t – compromise, make a mental note of it. Don’t waste time on applications and interviews for position which, no matter how perfect they read, you know deep down you are never going to take.

2) Put it out thereNow that you have your resume sorted you need to ensure it gets seen by as many potential employers as possible. These days it’s easy to start doing that before even leaving the uK. A good way to initiate the process is by uploading it to a site like www.recruit2oz.com. remember that this is essentially a passive approach, which although has potential for success is not sufficient as the only means to get you out there and on the market.

You need to be pro-active in your job hunt, which I’m afraid does mean trawling sites and searching ads. sites such as www.linkme.com.au are great starting points, and are good to browse to get an idea of what is around before honing your search further.

After making applications or submitting your resume it’s always worth making a follow up call to see how things are progressing, and to get an idea of where you stand. As long as it’s just a quick call it will help to ensure you appear interested in and serious about the job, and means that your name will become better known which can only be a good thing!

3) It’s not what you know...Networking is essential to getting up that ladder in this day and age, both virtually and face-to-face. start calling in all those favours you’re owed, and if you have contacts in your field now is the time to use them.

Make it known that you’re available and looking, and don’t be afraid to follow up on any leads. If appropriate you can ask contacts to speak to their contacts, and so on and so forth. Just remember to take the initiative and responsibility for making connections and developing relationships, but don’t be pushy or too demanding; networking is all about relationships and rapport.

As well as this informal approach, targeted networking is worth exploring. seek out trade shows, career events, discussion boards or any platforms for getting spotted and making contact with the people who will be able to get you to where you want to be.

In the meantime get active on

Linkedin, Twitter and facebook, and be sure to exploit any other internet platforms to get your name out there, such as Youtube, Pinterest and Tumblr. Be sure to maintain an online presence and keep profiles and contact lists up to date. remember - in many professions online marketing is as integral to your professional profile as a well written resume and good interview technique.

4) Deliver the goodsOnce you get that all important interview prep, prep, prep. And be prepared. Did I already say that?

start by r e s e a r c h i n g the company tho rough ly, and be sure to go a bit further than just looking up the website. Make sure you really understand the company, and have a good insight into what they do and how they work. It’s also advisable to check out their competitors, and be sure to familiarise yourself with any upcoming changes or developments in the company or sector as a whole.

remember that in interviews it is largely about technique. When rehearsing and practising answers and responses work on delivery as

much as, if not more than, content. Practice so that you know the best words to use and how much information to give, as well as to make sure you don’t get flustered or muddled.

Be sure to build up some rapport with the panel. Interviewers are usually trained in the 70/30 rule, whereby the interviewee should talk for 70% of the time and interviewer for 30%. however, a 50/50 dialogue allows for more of a conversation to develop, which helps with building up a good relationship.

Within the conversation make sure you give sufficient information, without going overboard - questions such as ‘have I told you everything you need to know?’ or ‘is that enough detail?’ will help moderate responses. Also remember to think before speaking; interviewers don’t expect an immediate response, and buying yourself a few seconds to ensure you have your answer prepared is much better than jumping in and galloping off on a tangent.

finally, portraying self-confidence and self-belief is crucial to presenting well. An interview is a nerve-wracking experience, but if you’re prepared and have done your research it will be a lot less intimidating and your confidence will shine through and enhance your potential and employability. Good luck!

Get that job!

“moving back home could be a golden

opportunity to make that change and start on the next phase”

30 October - 5 November 201210 | AFL

More biteThe other Bulldogs to watchOTher Bulldog players sure to get the Aussie crowd roaring are sons of guns Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore. Both are classy youngsters with the tenacity of their dads and the composure of men well beyond their years.

If they are the future backbone, then Liam Picken and Clay smith are the heart and soul. Both possess a scarily fearless style and will have the British public on their

feet with their desire to win at any cost. It is Zephiniah skinner, however, who Dahlhaus singles out as the player to watch on saturday.

skinner is a freakish talent, capable of leaping Big Ben in a single bound. Whenever the indigenous forward goes near the ball, the crowd and volume rise as one. Look out if he hangs on to one of his flying marks; your mum will almost be able to hear the crowd from Oz.

Those lucky enough to have a ticket to witness this encounter will get their value for money, with both sides playing to win. “Our game is so unpredictable”, Dahlhaus said. “Both teams will be having a crack.”

lukE DAhlhAuS LuKe DAhLhAus, 20, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom since his debut in 2011. he combines his trademark lightning pace with silky footwork and has fast become one of the Bulldogs’ favourite sons. Dahlhaus modestly attributes his popularity to “probably my hair more than anything else and maybe that people didn’t have high expectations because I came from the rookie list”, he said.

so highly is he rated that he has been given the coveted number 6 guernsey previously worn by club legend and Premiership captain-coach, Charlie sutton. Most recently, Bulldog games record-holder Brad Johnson wore the famous number, which has just now been brought out of retirement for Dahlhaus.

“It’s an absolute honour to wear a number that means so much to the club. I’ll wear it with pride,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to accept it, but the coaches, my teammates and fans supported it, so that made it easier”.

One man who has seen every game that Dahlhaus has played is one-eyed Bulldogs’ supporter Phil stange, from Bacchus Marsh in Melbourne’s wild west. A member for over thirty years and parochial fan, Phil has watched his beloved club from the windy terraces of Whitten Oval for as long as he can

remember. He still has the retro duffle coat that

he would wear during the 1980s - long before Dahlhaus was even born. In that time, Phil has marvelled over the majesty of former stars such as Dougie hawkins and Chris Grant, and predicts that Dahlhaus has the same qualities to be held in the same esteem as those illustrious figures.

“Luke Dahlhaus to me represents the future of the Western Bulldogs. he is, without question, a great player and ambassador for the club”, said Phil with knowing surety.

“he is becoming a leader both on and off the field and is helping to write a new chapter for our club,” he added.

Phil was further optimistic about his team’s prospects on saturday.

“The crowd will all be cheering for my ‘British Bulldogs’. I’m confident we will win - we’ve never lost a match in London before,” he joked, wryly alluding to the fact that this is the Bulldogs’ first voyage to the UK.

When talking about the Bulldogs’ preparation for this week’s match, Dahlhaus says that players have been working on individual programmes provided by the conditioning staff over the off-season.

“We want to make sure we’re in reasonable condition to compete”, he said.

“combines trademark lightning pace with

silky footwork”

By Mat Lyons

WheN Mick Jagger first penned the words “Yesterday don’t matter when it’s gone”, in the rolling stones’ classic tune Ruby Tuesday, he may well have been speaking about the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide Power’s 2012 AfL season.

Both clubs endured a long and forgettable year, but will start afresh this saturday as their 2013 pre-season campaign kicks off at London’s Kia Oval. And while Jagger and his band prepare to shuffle into town for their 50th Anniversary Tour later this month, the decidedly more fresh-faced AfL players fly in with their best years still ahead.

The Bulldogs and Power will take to the field on Saturday 3 November, for what will be the 17th occasion that the AfL has staged an exhibition match on British turf. Over the years the event has showcased a smorgasbord of champions and treated footy-

MAt LYONs caught up exclusively with two of the League’s hottest young guns as they prepare for the big clash on 3 November. The mighty Western Bulldogs and their dreadlocked dynamo Luke Dahlhaus take on Port Adelaide, boasting the star quality of 2011 Best and Fairest winner Jackson Trengove, in the AFL European Challenge at London’s Kia Oval.

Barrack: to cheer for a team. Originates from world wars when games played close to army barracks were heavily attended by personnel. Blinder: excellent performanceCoathanger: dangerous high tackle around the neck or head.Daisy-cutter: fast-moving low to the ground kick, also called a wormburner.Drop punt: common method of kicking the ball where foot contacts ball before it reaches ground. Ball spins end under end.Handball: passing the ball by hand. Player must hold the ball

stationary with one hand, and punch the ball with the clenched fist of the other hand. Mark: player takes a mark when they cleanly catch a kicked ball which has travelled more than 15 meters.Pill, or prune: terms to describe the ball. Specky: when a player leaps high in the air to take a mark. Also called a screamer.Spoiler: when a player affects another player’s mark.

Don’t know a behind from a banana kick? Well here’s how to spot a specky and a screamer from a spoiler so you can barrack with the best on Saturday.

starved Australians to elite football in unfamiliar surroundings.

Without premiership points on the line, it has allowed fans to put traditional team rivalries aside, and to bond as one, regardless of which colours they normally wear. That’s not to say that Carlton and essendon fans in attendance on saturday will buy one another hotdogs or share a hug, but at least they’ll be united in appreciating the exploits of both competing sides, even if just for one day.

If past London matches are any indicator, the crowd is in for a treat. In addition to the fast and furious pace in which the modern game is played, there is an added willingness of visiting players to take risks they wouldn’t ever contemplate back at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. expect to see players launching 65-metre torpedoes, shooting for goals from impossible angles, flying through the air to pluck marks that a human cannonball wouldn’t attempt and shirt fronting the opposition like the days of old.

It will be a fantastic day of footy; a celebration of Australia and a celebration of what we all know is the greatest game on earth.

Although technically ‘on leave’, there seems to be no rest for this hungry breed of Bulldogs who are leaving no stone unturned to rediscover success.

Despite many experts predicting a long and slow rebuilding process for the Bulldogs, history has shown that clubs can bounce back quickly. Take the West Coast Eagles. After finishing stone cold last in 2010, they were written off by all and sundry the following season, only to shock the competition by finishing a kick away from defeating Collingwood to make the 2011 Grand final. such a turnaround in fortunes has become strikingly commonplace, as the stats sheets show. Aside from two exceptions, every season since 1994 has seen a team rise from outside the final eight, to make the top four the following season.

so, could the Bulldogs be that team who surprises the football world in 2013? If you ask Phil, or any die-hard fan for that matter, to rate their team’s future prospects at this time of the year, chances are you’ll get a convincingly swift and affirmative response.

Dahlhaus believes the club is on the right path, with coach Brendan McCartney determined to develop a winning culture. And that begins against Port Adelaide, with the Bulldogs desperate to continue on their learning journey under the tight reigns of their mentor.

“Macca won’t let us run our own race, even if it’s an exhibition game,” said Dahlhaus.

“We’ll put in place the same things we’ve learned over the year - winning the contested ball.”

INTERVIEW

AFL LINGOLuke Dahlhaus (AFL media)

Western Bulldogs versus Port Adelaide Power

Image by AAP

Bulldogs Coach Brendan McCartney (AAP)

“it has allowed fans to put traditional team

rivalries aside, andto bond as one”

AFL | 11AustralianTimes.co.uk

time, they’ve got the fire in the belly and the hunger to lay a tackle, put on a shepherd, score a goal and especially to celebrate.

“The curtain raiser is critical to developing our talent pathways in europe,” AfL europe’s Ben MacCormack said.

“It allows the best european players to showcase their skills in front of the biggest crowd they will have played in front of.

“There is some great young talent and some more experienced players that are all thrilled to get the opportunity to plan at a venue like this in the sport they love.”

First bounce in the JLT curtain raiser match between the Continent All-Stars and the Islands All-Stars, at the AFL Australian Football European Challenge this Saturday, is at 1pm.

AustralianTimes.co.uk/sport

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Continued from p12...

ONe player who shares Dahlhaus’s appetite for a contest is Port Power’s Jackson Trengove. The towering defender, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on the eve of the match, will have increased responsibility in the upcoming season, and can’t wait to get started on saturday. “We want to win every game we play and this will be no exception”, he said.

Trengove was taken at number 22 in the 2008 National Draft and has become a vital cog for the Power after being the youngest player in the club’s history to win the John Cahill Medal. At the tender age of just 21, he is already a member of leadership group and is touted by many as a future captain.

“I enjoyed a good season from a personal point of view in 2011 but I was disappointed with my form this season”, he said

“There is no substitute for hard work and preparation.

“That is not to say I didn’t work hard over the last twelve months but I’ll be looking to work even harder again this pre-season to get fitter and stronger so I can play my role for the team.”

Despite whispers that he would return to his home city of Melbourne at the end of the season, he ended the speculation by signing a new two-year deal, highlighting his determination to be part of Port’s renaissance.

“We won’t be putting any limitations on what we can achieve individually or as a group next season”, he said.

“The whole competition is so competitive and any team can beat anyone on a given day.

“every side wants to play finals football, and we are no exception, but our expectations for 2013 are about developing and improving our young group so we can build for eventual sustained finals

success.”similar to the Bulldogs, Port players

have been active since their season ended in early september.

“We’ve all been doing our own training away from the club, so we all should be ready to go,” said Trengove.

his teammates will also prepare by combining the uK visit with a stopover in Italy.

“Our pre-season officially starts this week in Milan at a training camp which will also get us set for the game,” he added.

Jackson Tengrove (AFL Media)

“towering defender a vital cog for the Power”

MAt LYONs caught up exclusively with two of the League’s hottest young guns as they prepare for the big clash on 3 November. The mighty Western Bulldogs and their dreadlocked dynamo Luke Dahlhaus take on Port Adelaide, boasting the star quality of 2011 Best and Fairest winner Jackson Trengove, in the AFL European Challenge at London’s Kia Oval.

JACkSoNTrENgovE

More PowerThe other Port players to watch POrT will field a young team, bursting with promise. Matt Broadbent enjoyed a breakout season as a goal kicking midfielder and will join forces with attacking on-baller Brad Ebert and mercurial 19-year old Chad Wingard.

Others who pose a threat are Justin Westhoff and Jay shultz who were a menace for opposition defenders in 2012, kicking 70 goals between them. They are capable of simply ripping the Bulldogs apart if they get their tails up.

“We’ll be looking to try a few things and have a look at what some of our younger and newer players can do,” Trengove said.

“Certainly we’ll be looking to provide an entertaining spectacle for the fans so hopefully that will include a lot of goals, especially for us.

“It’s very exciting to play in front of a new audience. some of the British fans may have only seen a few games on TV so we’ll be looking forward to showcasing some of the best of our game like high marking, long kicking and hard tackling.”

And when it comes to streakers, Trengove was unsure of how he might react: “Well it will be dependent on whether they are a male or female as to whether I might sneak a peek.”

The encounter also sets up a reunion between rival coaches Brendan McCartney and newly appointed Port boss Ken hinkley.

Both worked side-by-side as

Assistant Coaches for Geelong and

were jointly credited with establishing a dynasty down at Corio Bay. But as McCartney will testify,

the role is an intense and unforgiving one when you are in the hot seat.

Jackson Trengove is confident however that hinkley has the experience and mettle to instil a winning blueprint.

“he has spoken a lot about trust within the group and about stability and development. he’s also spoken about the importance of having a strong team-first culture, where every player will be expected to play their role for the betterment of the team as a whole,” said Trengove.

“And as for game style, I’d expect Ken to bring some of his attacking philosophies from Geelong where he was extremely successful as an assistant coach.”

Western Bulldogs versus Port Adelaide Power

INTERVIEW

That man, Ben MacCormack, who with his team has been working around the clock to ensure smooth running of this week’s european Challenge, said the game in europe is in such good shape that he could foresee the day when a non-Irish european would make his way onto an AfL list.

Denmark, which boasts players with a rare combination of skill, pace and size, seem best placed to serve up that offering first.

The side they sent to the euro Cup would certainly give many Australian suburban and country clubs a run for their money.

Many of the Danes are on display in the curtain-raiser at The Oval which will see AfL europe All-stars Islands take on the Continent lads.

Look out for Aksel Bang, a tough hard running midfielder from Denmark, who won best player in the euro Cup in september. he’s a Brent harvey type whose form on the day could dictate the outcome for the Continent boys.

Continent All-Stars and islands All-Stars to showcase Europe’s talents in curtain raiser

Not surprisingly, the Islands team – made up of Great Britain and Ireland – boasts no less than eight Irishmen. The British team, which finished an impressive third at the euro Cup, boasts six representatives. Liam Corbett, who travels from Cardiff to play for West London in the AfL London competition is the sole Welsh representative, while 37-year-old Palle finnsson has played in Iceland, Denmark and france.

The Continental team is a mix of mainland europeans and scandinavians. Croatia and Italy have emerged as keen enthusiasts of the game in the past five years and half a dozen players will participate this weekend.

When you are watching the curtain raiser there is likely to be more clangers (skill errors) than you’re used to seeing. But rather than watching whether a drop punt spins perfectly off the boot or a mark is taken without fumbling, look at the two players’ eyes when they are contesting a disputed ball – then you will see that while this crazy game is alien to them, the passion and hunger for the contest is universal. somehow, in such a short

Port Adelaide’s new coach, Ken Hinkley. (AAP)

Image by AAP

Coach vs coach

Jackson Tengrove (AAP)

So, let the battle beginsO the stage is set for what shapes to be a great contest. It may be November and 50,000 miles away from football’s heartland, but make no mistake, these two clubs are primed for battle. “May the best team win”, winked Jackson Trengove when speaking to Australian Times.

Whatever the outcome, it is certain to be a cracking day out, especially if the hype and ticket sales are anything to go by. Let’s hope the army of expatriates each bring a British mate to show off what we love about Aussie rules and they are treated to a relentless, high-octane experience that they won’t forget.

Dahlhaus, Trengove and their teammates are certainly raring to go. It’s the first AFL Premiership exhibition match in the uK for six years. expectations are high for the type of success that will ensure the event becomes a regular annual fixture once more. Or as Mick Jagger might say, start them up and may they never stop.

P10

...continued on p11

By Lee Crossley

THINK back to the first time you attempted a drop punt with an Aussie rules football.

It didn’t spin perfectly and it probably didn’t go straight either.

But you were probably just a kid, right? five or even younger, perhaps?

spare a thought then for the thousands of europeans trying to play our great game annually, many of whom have less than a year’s experience in our alien game, some who’ve never even seen an AfL game live.

Despite the at-times confusing nature of Aussie rules, europeans are gravitating to our great game in record numbers.

Clubs are popping up in exotic locations such as Iceland and spain. Denmark, which was defeated by one point in a thrilling euro Cup Grand final in edinburgh in september by Ireland, boasts one of the most highly-skilled teams outside of Australia – and the bulk of its squad is under 23.

One does not have to go far to stumble upon an Aussie rules club in europe. some play in weekly competitions such as AfL London, which has a 10-week home and away season and four weeks of finals; others play when they can, like in Paris where social games are coordinated on a month-by-month basis.

That the game is now played in 60 countries outside of Australia is a statistic that would surprise many Aussies. however those involved with the game in the Northern hemisphere are only too aware of its popularity here and its potential to grow.

The big wigs at AfL house are starting to take notice too. They have appointed a full-time administrator to run AfL europe and help facilitate the game’s growth here.

Aussies look to defend cup titleseuropeans flush

With footy fever

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Here’s how to spot a specky from a spoiler

Image by AAP

BulldoGs vs portWho will rule Britannia? special feature, inside

By Phill Browne

TrY Tag rugby’s last one day festival of the year is on this saturday, 3 November.

The popular International Cup tournament takes place at Wasps Twyford Avenue sports Ground in Acton.

The competition will feature a record 21 teams across three divisions; Mixed A-grade, Men’s and Mixed social Grade.

London Australia, as reigning champions in the Mixed A-grade and Men’s divisions, will be looking to defend their titles. They will face some tough opposition, with the Great Britain and Ireland World Cup teams participating.

Other nations represented at the International Cup include: London france, London Ireland, London New Zealand, London scotland, London south Africa, London Wales and Try Tag rugby england.The London Australia squads are:

Mixed A-grade: Kellie Dowdell, Will Dorahy, Jade elias, Lauren emery, Andrew frost, Louise hunt, Melissa Macdonald, Adam Madigan (c), Thomas Parsons, Tom Peel, Phoebe robins and Kirk Weir.

Men’s: Lawrence Aruta, Oliver Bastow, Cameron Bretag, Andrew Davis, Owen Dempster, Murray farquharson, Mark hudson, steve Leary (c), Arron Lombardo and Adric Mason.

Mixed Social Grade: Chris Bitmead, Libby Dewick, hollie Dunn, Nikki ellwood, Tim Gatehouse, George Katralis, rachel Klein, richard McArthur, Jen McLean and Amos rojter (c).

In other news, Try Tag rugby’s Late Autumn season - the last competition for 2012 - kicked off last Wednesday.

Late Autumn season competitions will take place at the following venues: Acton, Balham, Barnes, Bermondsey, Borough, rotherhithe, shoreditch Park and Tooting Bec.

If you would like to get involved in one of the fastest growing sports in London, new team and individual registrations are welcome. It is a great opportunity to develop a network of friends if you are new to London.

To register for a Try Tag Rugby competition or event, go to www.trytagrugby.com or email info@trytagrugby.com for more details.

n As the curtain raiser to this week’s AFL blockbuster, the world game is set to come of age.