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Australia plays on the world stage at the Olympics
Daryl Adair | July 20, 2012Will the London Olympics result in national pride or national shame for sports-loving Australians? Ahead of the Olympics Daryl Adair looks at the level of anxiety already surrounding our medal chances.
Australia has a longstanding connection with the modern Olympic Games. Two points illustrate this.
First, only five nations have had representatives at every summer Olympics; Australia is one of them. Second, the Games have only been held in the southern hemisphere twice; the host cities have both been in Australia (Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000). This leads to a fundamental question: why has Australia sought to engage so enthusiastically with the Olympics?
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Diabetes – the monkey on Australia’s back
Joel Tuccia | July 19, 2012Regular exercise benefits everyone, but physical activity for diabetes patients is about more than getting fit. Joel Tuccia looks at one of Australia's biggest health concerns.
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Destination hope – exploring stem cell tourism
Megan Munsie | July 18, 2012Each year hundreds of Australians are spending time and money to travel overseas in search of medical therapies that are unavailable or illegal at home. Megan Munsie says it is important that patients share their experiences so that others can learn from it.
The possibility that stem cells may one day treat ailments such as Macular Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes and numerous other conditions has captured the public’s imagination and given hope to many.
Although stem cell research is making progress – with many clinical trials now underway to evaluate new therapies – for those seeking cures, the rate of the progress is frustratingly slow.
Some Australians are not prepared to wait and are choosing to pursue experimental, unproven stem cells treatments abroad – a growing but little understood phenomenon often referred to as stem cell tourism.
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What in the world has happened to cricket?
Brian Stoddart | July 17, 2012Once thought of as a pleasant gentleman’s sport, cricket has seen many changes since going international in the 1800s. Brian Stoddart looks at recent issues that seem indicative of wider problems confronting the modern game.
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UncategorisedMarine network details released
editor | July 15, 2012
The Australian Government has finalised the details of its national marine reserve network, following stakeholder consultations and submissions on the draft and with detailed socio-economic assessments.The federal government announced in June this year the creation of 44 new marine parks covering more than a third of Australia’s waters, making it the largest marine reserve network on the planet.
The Director of National Parks is inviting public comment on the proposed Proclamations of Commonwealth marine reserves. The public comment period closes on Monday 10 September 2012.
Tackling sporting misconduct not an easy win
Tim Fuller | July 13, 2012When high profile sports men and women behave badly it can mean the end of their career. Tim Fuller says behavioural clauses in standard sporting contracts are deliberately vague, resulting in a range of actions which can be interpreted as disreputable.
A common term applied to any inappropriate behaviour off the sporting field is behavioural misconduct in sport. It is not a recent development by any means in high level sport. It is just that the publication of behavioural misconduct or off-field conduct is becoming more prevalent.
Buy Nothing New encourages conscientious consumption
Tamara D | July 12, 2012Social activists protesting against consumerism is a modern day cause, drawing attention to the pitfalls of Affluenza. Tamara DiMattina says the goal is to promote conscientious consumption not the end of the retail sector.
Recently, Buy Nothing New Month has achieved it’s primary goal of create debate around consumption.
To be clear, Buy Nothing New Month is about conscientious consumption. It aims to encourage us all to think about how we buy, what and why and to consider the alternatives. It promotes the second hand economy and the collaborative consumption options we now have access to that save our resources from landfill and extend the life of existing goods. (Time Magazine calls Collaborative Consumption one of the 10 ideas that will change the world.)
The Ultimate sporting spirit
Richard Moore | July 11, 2012Sports critics often say that modern sport lacks a spirit of fair play and honesty. Richard Moore says there is one sport that operates on a principle of player responsibility when it comes to following the rules and playing fair.
Community Radio still connects 40 years on
Kath Letch | July 10, 2012Australia's first community radio station, Radio Adelaide, turned 40 this year. There are now more than 300 community stations across Australia and, according to Kath Letch the sector is stronger and more multicultural than ever.
One of the key findings of the Government’s recent Convergence Review was the importance of local content and the Australian community broadcasting sector has been delivering on that for decades. With Radio Adelaide 101.5FM marking 40years of broadcasting in June, the sector is now stronger and more diverse than ever.
I started broadcasting at 6UVS FM (now RTR) in Perth in the late 70’s and by that time the third tier of Australian broadcasting was fully licensed under a legislated public radio broadcasting structure with a handful of stations on-air.
Football identity reflection of culture
Les Murray | July 9, 2012Australia’s style of football has changed as it has developed as a nation. Today it is characterised by mental fortitude, self-belief and a winning ambition. Les Murray explains why.
Australia had no distinctive style for the first 80 years of its football history. It was played just like it was in England, only nowhere near as well.
But national styles can be fashioned, moulded and altered by migratory movements and this is what happened in Australia, beginning in the 1950s.
The immigrants from outside Britain that flooded the country during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, brought an influence that would not only change the way the game was played in Australia. That influence would conspire to finally give Australian football a stylistic and cultural identity.
Netball is more than just a sport
NadineCohen1 | July 6, 2012Earlier this week Dianne Jones wrote a blog about the coverage of women’s sport in the Australian media. She discussed the idea that support from gamblers is key to viewer interest and said netball was now Centrebet’s biggest women’s team sport. Netball Australia’s Nadine Cohen wrote this blog in response.
Firstly, in answer to your question Dianne of whether Netball Australia foresaw an increase in gambling in the sport – of course we saw it coming!! After months of research, engagement and consultation, in March 2012, the Netball Australia Board approved a National Policy on Match Fixing in Netball, an application for recognition as a Sports Controlling Body under the Victorian Legislation has been submitted, and discussions with Sports Betting Operators to enter into Integrity Agreements have been underway for months.
