News Archive

Fans keen for start of Rugby League season

Fans keen for start of Rugby League season

It’s time to dust off the mouldy boots and replace the old peas in dented whistles: this old Rugby League warrior (spectating only these days) is avidly anticipating the kick-off to the 2013 National Rugby League season. Like many other supporters, I …
Sydney celebrates Koreatown Festival

Sydney celebrates Koreatown Festival

The annual Koreatown Festival combines the best of traditional Korean dance, song and instruments with a modern twist – namely the Gangnam-style dance contest and K-pop – to showcase what this vibrant, lesser-known Asian community is all about. Only very recently has …
Spec Saviours: Who Made Glasses Cool Again?

Spec Saviours: Who Made Glasses Cool Again?

I stared at my reflection in mild disbelief. A girl wearing heavy black frames gazed back owlishly. Behind them were brown eyes covered with prescription contact lenses – which I had switched to several months ago because I was tired of wearing …
Australian Open attracts huge crowds

Australian Open attracts huge crowds

Gripping finals matches, success for our Australian players and outstanding attendance figures highlighted the 2013 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Considered as the first of the four ‘Grand Slam’ tennis events of the year, the Australian Open is conducted on the picturesque …
Volcanic sunrise in the heart of Bali

Volcanic sunrise in the heart of Bali

The rhythmic patter of rain on the tent wakes us before our alarm: 3:30a.m. Whose idea was this again? We step out into the pitch black and are met by our smiling guide, Made, who hands us torches and ponchos. How can …
Toxic smog envelops Bejing

Toxic smog envelops Bejing

China has paid for its long-term air pollution with an unprecedented haze shrouding Beijing and sparking mass panic over the past three days. On January 12, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre (BMEMC) announced that the official measurements of PM2.5 fine particulates had reached 993 …