I don't want Australia's 2012 Olympic Games performance reviewed - I want the public money tap turned off!

In the Brisbane Times on 11th August 2012:
“AUSTRALIA'S performance at the London Olympics, its worst result in 20 years, has cost taxpayers $10 million for each medal won……
The data reveals that the Australian Institute of Sport spent a record $310 million of public money on the Olympics campaign. Swimming, with one gold medal in the women's 4x100 metres freestyle relay, took nearly $39 million of that, over four years. Australia's swimmers won six gold medals in Beijing (2008) and seven in Athens (2004).
Its budget has almost doubled since 2009, in preparation for these Games. The last time Australia failed to win an individual swimming gold was at Montreal in 1976, when its feeble overall performance (one silver and five bronzes) led the Fraser government to pump money into the creation of the institute. Swimming Australia has ordered a review of this year's performance.”
Now I like cheering on Aussie teams as much as the next bloke, but I have to agree with Maud Up The Street – this is an obscene amount of money to waste on what in real terms are professional sportsmen and women competing in a commercial enterprise run by a corrupt multinational masquerading as a philanthropic organisation sitting on a revenue pot currently worth around AUD $6 billion.
Australia's hard-earned money should have gone towards setting up the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Australia's answer to the Haka

Indigenous All Stars vs NRL All Stars 2011.

You must watch this – if only for the stunned look on the faces of the opposing team!

http://youtu.be/0Y59JIObk_U

Janelle joins Yamba for a little Midnight Sports Finals action

Janelle joins Yamba Midnight Sports finals action

FEDERAL Member for Page Janelle Saffin will be cheering from the sidelines tomorrow night (Friday, June 29) when more than 20 young people from the Lower Clarence complete the inaugural Yamba Midnight Sports tournament at Yamba’s Raymond Laurie Centre.

Ms Saffin said she was looking forward to finding out from local youth, aged 12 to 18, what they thought about the seven-week program, modelled on a successful Midnight Basketball tournament held in Grafton recently.

“Both of these tournaments were partly funded under a $40,000 Safer Suburbs Program grant which I secured for Clarence Valley Council at the last election, and I am keen to see how this is benefiting young people locally,” she said.

“This free program each week has been offering a healthy team dinner followed by structured workshops on mural art, drumming and building self-esteem, and games of basketball and futsal.

“I’d like to commend the young athletes and hip hop artists from the Grafton area for making the bus trip north to help youth workers and volunteers with the workshops and sport. I’d also like to encourage families and members of the public to come along and watch the finals from 9.30pm.”

Tomorrow night’s workshop will involve two teams reviewing the tournament, which has been managed by former Grafton Vikings stalwart player Shane Brotherson.

Janelle will present the awards and certificates at the end of the night, along with Clarence Valley Councillor Sue Hughes, who will be representing Yamba Midnight Sports Committee Chair and Deputy Mayor Cr Craig Howe.

Yamba Midnight Sports is an Australian Government initiative, which is being partly funded by Clarence Valley Council and supported by the Yamba and Maclean Chambers of Commerce.

Other community supporters include Youth Directions Inc, CHESS Yamba, Maclean Community Health, Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, New School of Arts Community Centre-Street Cruise, Clarence Community Transport, Volunteering Clarence Valley, Raymond Laurie Sports Centre, Maclean High School, Yamba Rotary Club, Smokos Snack Bar, Juvenile Justice, and CRANES Community Support Programs.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

One of the other perils of rock fishing - FEAR

A gaping Wobby at Julian Rocks, NSW

Many a keen fisherman will sympathise with The Daily Examiner’s editor over this salty experience he shared with the world last Tuesday:

“FISHING is supposed to be a relaxing activity, one where you can forget about the stresses of life, simply absorb the surroundings and be taken to another place.

It normally is for me, but not so on Sunday.

A friend and I headed to Woody Head to do a spot of bream fishing off the rocks. With not much happening on the fishing front, I decided to try another spot, but in the process managed to slip and put a small cut on the back of my leg on some oysters. There was a steady trickle of blood for the rest of the morning as the salty water stopped the wound from drying out.

As the tide rose we moved again, this time well away from the surf zone but where there was a collection of serious rocks and hazards. I lost a good deal of bait as I made my way out. I placed myself on a rock that had about half a square metre of surface above the water line and cast out. Small waves gently rose above the rock and up my calf muscles, keeping the wound wet and a drop or two of blood entering the water.

After about five minutes on the rock I looked down to see a wobbegong shark more than a metre long swimming beneath my feet, within a minute there was another, then another, then another.

I'm not sure I saw them all, but there were at least four, probably five, sharks milling around my feet.

They were so keen on what I was doing, they kept putting their heads onto the rock from which I was fishing.

This was disturbing.

I thought that in time they would pass. They didn't.

My only passage back to the mainland was by wading through the rock-filled water that was sometimes chest deep.

It wasn't a pleasant thought.

I know they are protected, but I stomped on the heads of a couple as they came onto the rocks and hit another couple with the butt of my rod. They would swim away for a few metres, then return.

I eventually decided to try to scare as many away as possible and take my chances through the rocks. I did and grabbed a few more bumps and grazes on the rocks on the way back, but thankfully the sharks left me alone.

I've seen what they can do to people when they latch onto someone.

My daughter told me last week one of the things on her bucket list was to swim with sharks. I'm going to cross that one off mine.”

A Click in Time - Celebrating the Centenary of Australian Surfing Photography 1911 - 2011

Russell Ord 2003

Blood and Guts, Shipsterns, Spooky’s and Pipeline are names that conjure up titles of horror movies rather than four spectacular Australian surf breaks that will be featured at the opening of the ‘Centenary of Australian Surfing Photography Exhibition’ at Yamba.

After 18 months planning and research for the exhibition, 100 professional and amateur surfing photographs from every state and decade from 1911 showcases a diverse range of skill, content and creativity while at all times showing some technical merit.

The 100 photographs exemplify the legacy of Osric Notley, the first person accredited with taking Australia’s first surfing photograph back in the summer season of 1911/12 at Main Beach Yamba in Northern NSW.

Priceless gems at the exhibition include the cover photos from two 1962 surfing bibles of the day, the first Surfing World and Surf About Magazines.

Female surfer Isabel Letham and friends with the Duke swim at Freshwater in Sydney in 1915 is an absolute rare find as to are Ma and Pa Bendall from the Sunshine Coast.

A number of the masters of the lens in their era have contributed their favourite masterpieces including John Witzig’s ‘Headless McTavish’, Alby Falzon’s Bobby Brown at Angourie, Jack McCoy at Gnaraloo Station and Christo Reid at Wanna Beach, South Australia.

Some surf photographers look like they simply have a death wish when they paddle out at Cyclops in SA and Shipsterns in Tasmania with two massive waves caught on camera in 2006 and 2003 and submitted by Russell Ord and Sean Davey.

South coast photographer Dave Milnes has generously contributed a previously unpublished photo of surfing legend Bobby Brown taken at Port Kembla.

Angourie veterans Albert Fox and John Batcheldor relieve their 1963 road trip to Bryon Bay from Warilla captured on a box Brownie while surfing at Blood and Guts (Belongil).

Like the turn of the century in 1900 there was a massive shift in photographic equipment enabling photography to be picked up by the masses, not unlike today.  An example of this new technology comes in the form of 11 year old, Pheonix Short who submitted an image he took of himself with his ‘Go Pro’.

Some of the international surf names Andy Irons, Layne Beachley and Kelly Slater are also immortalized in the exhibition.

We may have also inadvertently found Australia’s first female surf photographer? A Yamba woman Sharmian Maxwell, instead of lying on the beach in her polka dot bikini was out and about with her father’s camera snapping Angourie in 1964.

A vintage display of retro camera gear will also be feature of the exhibition.

The exhibition goes for two months at the Yamba Museum 3^rd December to 3^rd February 2012.

Entry fee is $5 (Children Fee), funds raised go to the disability surfers and Yamba Museum who will be gifted the collection at the end of the exhibition.

No photographs are for sale as the exhibition as it becomes a permanent collection for the community of Yamba, the birthplace of Australian Surfing Photography.

Unknown 1917

One Click In Time from Debrah Novak on Vimeo.

Media Contact: Debrah Novak Mobile: 0419272621

Oh, poo - we lost!

Not only did we lose the FIFA Fútbol World Cup venue bidding war, we lost resoundingly:
2022
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)
And here I was hoping that for the next decade there would've been a national meeja topic which might occasionally actually drown out Tony Abbott's carping, Mark Lahtham's whining, Paul Howe's big noting, Kristina Keneally's scolding, Chris Mitchell's posturing and John Howard's revisionism for whole days at a time.
Apparently the failed bid also cost the Aussie taxpayer about A$45.6 million and all we got for the money was this little video:

Byron Lighthouse Run on Sunday 25 October 2009

Want to have a great time this weekend? Go to Byron Bay for the fun run.

Byron Lighthouse Run to benefit the NSW Cancer Council

25 October 2009 - Start time 7am

Choose between a 10k run or an 8 k walk.

To enter click here cost is $40

Entry from 24 October or on the day of the run is $70

To enter by mail the entry form and details is here

Team entry is possible. A team is 5 members entered and paid for in one transaction. Team members enter at $5 discount. The team leader needs to know each full name, address, phone number and date of birth of team members. To enter click here. Aged 17 and under entry fee is $15 per entry. To enter click here.

Major prizes include luxury accommodation packages in Byron Bay.

Further details at http://byronrun.com/

One blogger is not playing the game according to the England and Wales Cricket Board

The live streaming for free blog http://britcric.blogspot.com has run foul of the England and Wales Cricket Board who have sent Google a cease and desist notice, because the blog is linking to an "infringing third party" site http://go4gold.webs.com/channel%201.html.

Apparently linking in this case is considered LBW and out!

Howzaat!

I must say that my understanding of cricket matches is limited to memories of forming part of a backyard team each summer school holidays.
This exchange in The Australian 's First Byte between Ashes tragics tickled both fancy and memory.

• 27 August 2009

After 24 hours of careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the reason why Australia lost the Ashes was because England made more runs.

Tom Rundell
Warana, Qld

• 28 August 2009

Sadly for Tom Rundell (First Byte, 27/8), here's the basic truth of the matter. Australia lost the Ashes because England won more Test matches. Overall, England managed a meagre 2869 runs, while Australia scored a mammoth 2886. And, to rub more salt into our wounds, England lost a staggering 84 wickets in achieving its tally, while Australia lost just 71.

Col Shephard
Yamba, NSW

Young Emma Moffatt makes the NSW North Coast proud

Photograh from Google Images

Her parents and the people of Woolgoolga - Coffs Harbour must have their chests puffed out this week as the now Gold Coast-based triathlete Emma Moffatt goes from strength to strength.

The Australian reported on Saturday:

OLYMPIC Traithlon bronze medallist Emma Moffatt has enforced her newfound international dominance, winning her third consecutive top-class race in as many weeks.

Moffatt, 24, won at the Kitzbuhel round of the world championships series yesterday.

Emma's record since 2004 here.

Well done, Emma. Athletes on the North Coast are barracking for you.

The sports industry is full of Oliver Twists

I let my digits loose on Google late yesterday afternoon to find out why "athletes need more funding".
Suddenly the computer screen was filled with bitches, moans and groans from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Britain and whatever sporting rep could get themselves published on the subject.

Each and every one yelling about standards, inequalities and the overwhelming need for government to fork out more money so that every Tom, Dick and Harriett could turn themselves in top-notch professional athletes.

Well I'll be b*ggered if I will agree that government should do more for these jocks.

There are still too many people living in poverty in Australia, health services which are spread too thin, inadequate community care of the very young and very old, and vast inequalities in access to decent education.

So to everyone from the Australian Olympic Committee, Institute of Sports, down to Alan Thompson and the newest Olympian - don't even think of bringing the begging bowls out after the Aussie teams come back from Beijing.

Your gold, silver and bronze just don't stack up against the real problems this country has to fix and Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis would be mad to ask for more money for her portfolio which already has a budget of around $260 million.

And you thought cricketers played for the love of the game

Ever wondered what motivates a bloke - okay, and the odd sheila - to don the creams and play cricket? Well, Aussie cricketer Stuart MacGill (pictured below - thanks, Sydney Morning Herald!) has let the cat out of the bag.


According to MacGill, "People have many different motivations. For some it's ego, some it's for appearances, some it's for cash, for some it's to be a pain in the arse and for some it's to get out of the house."

However, MacGill reckons money is the primary motive for some of Australia's cricketers to play the game.

"I don't think it's a problem - provided the guy does his job I don't care what the motivation is."

Confirming just how out of touch Australian cricket's establishment is Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, rejected the idea that players were driven by money despite a survey, commissioned by the Australian Cricketers' Association, showing that 47 per cent of national and 49 per cent of state players would consider an early retirement to play in lucrative Twenty20 tournaments.

Read more about this matter in today's Sydney Morning Herald here.

Matthew Hayden - too big for his boots

Just in case his team mates hadn't done enough to disgrace themselves and the national team this season, Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden did his bit with his outburst this week in relation to Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Really, Hayden, like a number of his team mates, has lost the plot. And, where's Cricket Australia standing in relation to this matter? Yes, of course, it is out to lunch yet again!

There can be no ifs or buts. Hayden and his team mates need to have a good, hard look at themselves.

Despite protests and claims that their actions have been harmless Hayden and his team mates who displayed similar behaviours this season are a national disgrace.

It's just not cricket

Bad blood between India and Australia continues in the 2008 international test cricket series, with Anil Kumble's repeated suggestion of Australian 'cheating'.

The whole sorry mess can be reduced to one sentence. A plague on both their houses.

Cricket: Questionable umpiring decisions spoil the Second Australia v. India Test Match

Much has been said and written about the poor performances of umpires Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Mark Benson (England) in the Second Cricket Test Match played between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (January 2 - 6, 2008).

A number of very dubious (no, make that downright wrong) umpiring decisions favoured the home team. Ironically, Australia's Andrew Symonds who was a prominent member of the cast in the umpiring controversies was named Man of the Match. Many experienced cricket-goers are convinced Steve Bucknor was easily THE man of the Match. Well, he did make a very big impression on it!

Bucknor's time in the centre must now be drawn to a sad and sorry close. Honestly, he should have stepped aside at a time when he was on top of his game and been remembered for the fantastic contribution he made to the game.

A full report of the game and its score card is at:
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/engine/match/291352.html