An elderly Australian couple became unwitting participants in a drug importation, after they noticed their suitcases were a little bit heavier upon returning home from a Canadian holiday.

The couple alerted authorities, and an X-ray machine at Perth International Airport showed irregularities in the lining of the couple’s suitcases.

Further examination revealed approximately three and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of £4.1 million ($7 million AUD).

“When Customs opened the suitcases and found the drugs I was relieved because I kind of felt something was wrong, and I was relieved I told them,” said the sixty-four year old woman, who does not want to be identified.

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Worth getting fired for; The Cat Empire gig

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ALL ABOUT AUSTRIA I think I'm turning Viennese

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29 October - 4 November 2013 Issue: 487

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MARK Moorhouse was lucky enough to win two VIP tickets through Australian Times to see The Cat Empire at Brixton Academy on Sunday night.

“The Cat Empire is a band I’ve wanted to see for a very long time. They are one Aussie band I’ve not seen; I always seem to miss them. I was out of town when they were playing back home. This time I wasn’t going to miss it.”

He invited a date to the gig, and had quite a big night, which “didn’t end badly”.

“I loved the gig. It was a great venue. It was the first time I’d been to the O2 Academy. I used to play trumpet, so seeing the guys on the trumpet was amazing.”

Read a review and see photos of the The Cat Empire gig here.

The following morning, tired and hung-over Moorhouse, a credit controller at a publishing company, called in sick at work.

During the day his housemate contacted him via his work email asking about his night; an innocent mistake.

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n Australian Federal Police are warning the public about a scam where consumers ‘win’ an all expenses paid holiday, unaware they are being used as drug mules.By Thomas Jones

29 October - 4 November 20132 | News

Publisher: Bryce LowryEditor: Thomas JonesProduction/Design: Nicól GroblerContributors: Georgia Dawes, Alex Ivett, Phillip Browne, Michael McCormick, Erin Somerville, George Katralis, Jacqui Moroney, Will Fitzgibbon, Kiel Egging, Daniel Shillito, Mat Lyons, Tyson Yates, Jennifer Perkin, Charlie Inglefield, Thomas Jones, Alistair Davis, Will Denton,

Chloe Westley, Bonnie Gardiner, Michaela Gray, Cohen Brown, Marian Borges, Haylee Slater, Emma O'Neill, Ally Juchnevicius, Courtney Greatrex, Poppy Damon, Kris Griffiths, Lara Brunt, Nicole Hayes, Alex Blackie, Mark Muggeridge, Sharon Spence-Lieb, Lana Penrose, Amy Paterson, Melissa Townsend Directors: P Atherton, J DurrantN Durrant, R Phillips and A Laird

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Share your comments on these and more stories online: AustralianTimes.co.ukWhat’s your

On: A touchy subject; Scotland’s independence vote As an Aussie living in Scotland who gets to vote in the referendum, the advice in the last paragraph is simplistic at best. Whilst the referendum debate is all over the news here, the only people passionate about it are those voting yes. The majority of the people I speak with who will be able to vote, including many “expat” English, will be voting no. not because they are passionate about the union, but that they can’t see the benefit of independence, or dislike Alex Salmond intensely. And that’s in his home town!

Craig

Yes, change the Union Jack for the Aboriginal Flag. They deserve it. It is their land!!!

Foort

The ’99 referendum was about who Australias titular head of state should be not about Independence . Australia has been fully Independent since 1986 with the passing of the Australia Acts . Scotland could retain Elizabeth as their head of state but severe their connection to the British Parliament . The National flag of Scotland is the Union Flag and that would have to change as Scotland would no longer be a part of the

UK . Australias flag should have changed in 1986 when we separated from the UK .

LejonOn: Boat people not the enemy says Labor Aren’t Christians supposed to be compassionate? With regard to asylum seekers, the government lacks any compassion. Abbott reckons he is a Christian but he certainly lacks compassion. He is in fact a goddamned hypocite.

Mick

On: English country practice; a romantic getaway Bonkers! Having lived in both, I’d say Sydney wwbeats London hands down for cleanliness, safety, space and friendly locals.

Kathryn

On: Thin Australians; an endangered species Any reasons as to why? Perhaps it’s Aussie’s obsession with food and drink. Honestly, everyone is a “foodie” in Oz – wine, food and coffee abound. Plus, people eat out heaps. The BYO culture only exists in Oz from my travels. I really miss this about Oz but maybe there is something to be said for Britain’s still rubbish food. It’s better to load up from Waitrose and cook yourself up something which expends more energy and is better for you. Just a theory.

Additional content:

company/australian-times@AustralianTimesAustralianTimes +Australiantimes Australiantimes

JoOn: 10 Australian slang terms Brits should adopt “Chav” is derived from a romany gypsy word “chavi” which means child. nothing to do with council estates.

LesleyOn: Tony Abbott says asylum boat buy-backs still onIf the Indo govt was serious about stopping the trade then it would be sorted by now. Their lack of effort/commitment/care means someone else has to take care of their problem. If they want to have a whinge then let them. They’re lucky they’re not sent the bill for all this!

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Thin Australians; an endangered speciesn The stereotype of all Australians being fit and healthy is set to change, as a new report has revealed six out of ten Australian adults are too fat to be healthy, and even the slimmest area in Australia has weight problems.By Thomas Jones

IT’S not hard to see why Brits perceive all Australians as being fit, active and healthy. Aussie Bum ads, Bondi Rescue, Hugh Jackman, and Lara Bingle’s tourism campaign do little to dispel such stereotypes. Can you recall any plus size cast members in neighbours, or Home and Away? neither can I. And despite our small population, the success we enjoy at international sporting events (London Olympics was one our off days) only confirms such beliefs.

In terms of stereotypes, it’s a pretty good one. But, and that’s a big butt, it’s far from accurate.

The reality; thin, healthy Australians are an endangered species.

New figures show more than six out of ten Australian adults are too fat.

According to a new report 10.8 million Australians are overweight or obese, which is rather disconcerting as the country only has a population of around 22.6 million.

The study, conducted by the national Health Reporting Authority,

found the obesity rate has ballooned from 11 per cent in 1989 to 28 per cent in 2011-12.

The heath authority divided the country according to Medicare local areas and found even the slimmest local area in Australia has weight problems.

Eastern Sydney, the slimmest area, has 49 per cent - almost half - of residents obese or overweight.

At the other end of the scales, the fattest area is western nSW, with 79 per cent of people overweight or obese. The second fattest is

Townsville/Mackay in Queensland, followed by country South Australia, Victoria’s Gippsland and Western Australia’s Goldfields/Midwest.

In these areas three quarters of the population are overweight.

The report considers a body mass index of 25 or more as overweight, and 30 or more as obese.

While overweight or obesity rates increase with geographic remoteness and lower socioeconomic status, 54 per cent of adults in the wealthiest urban areas are overweight or obese and 19 per cent are obese.

As part of Origins 2013 Australian born Maori dance artist Victoria Hunt embodies the spirit of a meeting house, which sheltered the people of Mount Tarawera during a volcanic eruption, in her performance Copper Promises: Hinemihi Haka.

Your Say

News | 3AustralianTimes.co.uk

collector or anything else at the moment.”

Asked if he regrets calling in sick: “Hell no.”

In response to the story The Cat Empire said to Moorhouse, via their Facebook page: "Let us know if you need a reference for loyalty."

statement. "Thankfully the travellers contacted

customs and didn't dismiss their concerns, allowing us to make the arrest."

Police said the subsequent investigation had revealed "a complex and highly-organised scam in which older Australians appear to be targeted by a bogus Canadian-based tour company identifying itself as 'AUSCAn Tours'".

Search warrants were conducted at a hotel in the Perth coastal suburb of Scarborough, where it will be alleged documents associated with this scam, along with electronic equipment, two suitcases (similar to the ones seized at Perth airport) and approximately $15,000 in cash were seized.

The AFP said they have never come across a scam like this before and they are not sure how long it has been running.

ACBPS Director Airport Operations Perth, Jan Hill, warned travellers about carrying luggage on behalf of someone else.

"If you've been asked to carry something on behalf of another person, make the right choice and alert local authorities," Ms Hill said.

"Do not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of another person."

“You’ve got to be really careful, really wary, and check everything out,” the female scam victim said.

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“She emailed asking how was my night… how was my date… she seemed like a babe… and all that sort of stuff. And she said we’ll have a wild night on Thursday.”

Email monitors at Moorhouse’s work picked up on the email, and decided this was grounds for termination.

However, instead of informing Moorhouse directly, they replied to his housemate’s emails informing her Moorhouse was no longer employed with them.

“When I woke up I had a whole lot

of text messages. My housemate had sent me photos of the emails she’d got from my work saying I was no longer employed there.”

Mark has not been in contact with his employer.

“I spoke to my recruitment company, but I probably would have had too many choice things to say to the lady who emailed my friend.

“She obviously didn’t let me know, but she let my housemate know.”

However it’s not all bad news for Moorhouse.

“I have an interview in two weeks. I am looking for any work as a debt

Letter of reference

The couple had recently won a competition, with a prize of two tickets to Canada, seven nights accommodation, and new luggage.

Members of the public are now being warned about an elaborate scam where consumers ‘win’ a an all expenses paid holiday, including new luggage, unaware they are being used as drug mules.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) began investigating this scam on 13 October at Perth International Airport, after the couple alerted authorities with concerns they had about their luggage.

The AFP will allege the couple were victims of an elaborate scam, and were unwitting participants in the drug importation.

“I could have ended up in jail for 25 years…ruined my life,” said the woman in an interview on Lateline.

“They were very nice suitcases, they were very expensive suitcases, were a little bit heavier,” she said.

Following police inquiries, a 38-year-old Canadian man was arrested at Perth International Airport on 13 October. At the time he had been waiting to greet the couple, police said.

"The organizers of this scam went to great lengths to provide a façade of legitimacy," AFP Perth Airport Police Commander David Bachi said in a

Pack your own bags

smugglers may turn to shipping containersn People smugglers are reported to be offering to put asylum seekers in shipping containers to get them to Australia or New Zealand.GREEnS leader Christine Milne is horrified by the prospect of piles of dead asylum seekers being found in shipping containers coming to Australia.

People smugglers in Indonesia are offering to transport asylum seekers in sealed shipping containers to get them to Australia or new Zealand, Fairfax Media reports.

Senator Milne says the report demonstrates that cruel deterrence strategies are not working because increasingly desperate people may resort to even more desperate measures.

"What sends absolute shivers down my spine is…we're going to find shipping containers on wharves in Australia and new Zealand and when they're opened we're going to find tragic scenes of a whole lot of people who have died," she told ABC TV on Sunday.

"This is what cruelty does."She worries some asylum seekers

could take the risk."I wouldn't say people won't do it,

they'll know it's dangerous," she said."They'll want to believe that they'll

only be in them until they're loaded on the ship and then allowed out."

Shipping containers have been used in people trafficking operations in the UK and Europe.

Former foreign minister Bob Carr said the asylum seeker problem became the "biggest" issue against the Labor government.

"It was bigger than carbon pricing," he told Sky news on Sunday.

"My advice to my former colleagues is absolutely crystal clear - you stick to the (PnG) Solution."

Senator Carr warned new Labor leader Bill Shorten not to allow backbenchers to freelance and attack Abbott's asylum seeker policy as inhumane.

"The electorate will read that ... as Labor going weak on the subject," he said.- AAP

29 October - 4 November 20134 | UK Life

helping recharge ideas about Government at the University of Sydney and in the COAG Reform Council.

Following on from the successful Being Australia(n) event in London at the London School of Economics (LSE) in late June, the London Steering Committee of the Australian Republican Movement is proud to announce Geoff Gallop will be coming to continue the conversation about Australia’s identity on Thursday 7 november back at the LSE. Geoff is keen to discuss why he thinks Australia needs to face the future as a republic and engage with the unique perspective of Aussies abroad. All are welcome.

Join in this important conversation with Geoff Gallop on Thursday 7 November from 6.30pm to 8.00pm at the 32 Lincoln’s Inn Fields (Room 32L.LG.03) at the London School of Economics & Political Science, WC2A 3PH. Spaces are limited so if would like to come, please RSVP to Simon Rowell on simonrowell81@gmail.com.

our London

spotlight on South East London

n Each week an Aussie Times writer will bring you a top five list from their favourite neighbourhood. This week COURTNEY GREATREX goes over to the other side, to see what is happening in South East London.

THERE has always been a bit of a divide between the north and south of the River Thames.

The north – safe and prosperous, with easy transport links and the best of British culture. The south, by comparison, gets a bad rap as being somewhat dark, dingy and a little bit scary.

But, after migrating south permanently I have found despite its bad reputation, there is a treasure trove of culture and activities, and thriving community spirit, yet to be discovered by those too scared to venture across the Thames.

Here are my top five things to do in South East London:

1 Brockwell Lido Known by locals as Brixton’s Beach this outdoor lido is one of the very few remaining in

London. The Olympic size pool recently opened for the summer months, accompanied by an outdoor café. On the rare occasion the mercury passes 20-degrees, it’s the best place to be, and let the sun kiss your skin. However, be warned, on those hot summer days the rest of South East London will be there with you.

2 Browns of BrockleyBrowns is situated directly opposite the Brockley Overground Station (more

commonly referred to in

these parts as the ‘ginger line’). But the great location isn’t the only thing this independent café has going for it. It has been featured in Time Out as one of London’s best coffee shops, and it’s not hard to see why. With a homely feel and some delicious food to accompany an even better coffee, Browns is unlikely to disappoint even the most critical of coffee fiend.

3 Telegraph HillWhen a break from city life is in need, Telegraph hill is the perfect spot to stop, sit, gaze

over London’s skyline, and take a breather. Just a few minutes walk from new Cross Gate Overground Station; Telegraph Hill offers the opportunity to show what the Southeast really has to offer.

4 Bar Story Bar Story can be found in a converted railway arch in Peckham, which has become

one of the coolest, up-and-coming areas in London. The bar is buzzing with a regular flow of customers, and features the work of some local artistic talent on its walls.

5 The Albany The Albany is a great little performing arts centre, based in the heart of Deptford. It features

music, theatre and spoken word as well as a range of participatory projects. With a particular commitment to the community, there’s always entertaining and enlightening performances by locals from all walks of life. Fully equipped with both a café and bar, there isn’t much not to love about this little cultural haven. Image by Toby Allen

Aussie expat faceliftn Aussie expat figures may not be what they used to, but the Australian influence over London life is increasing through new and different ways. What does this mean for the identity of Australians in the UK? It’s time to talk.By Simon Rowell

FOR Australians in London, times they are a changing. The number of Australians making their traditional rite of passage to the UK for a few years of work and European holidays is drying up. Recent Home Office figures suggest applications for the Youth Mobility Scheme (former working holiday scheme) have dropped from 7,000 in the first quarter of 2005 to 3,200 in 2013. It’s no wonder the Walkabout Shepherd’s Bush and Redback have shut down.

But at the same time, there is some evidence of Australian influence increasingly pervading over larger London life. Although at present, we can’t fall back on our traditional sporting dominance, we can turn to notable commercial and cultural successes. From the West to the East, Westfield dominates the London shopping landscape. And whilst there may have been a downfall of a few Aussie-themed pubs, Aussie coffee shops have led a coffee renaissance in London, even bringing the flat white

into the supply chains of all the big coffee shop groups.

What does this mean? Is this a sign of a prospering economy back home whose mining-driven growth prospects and strong Aussie dollar serve to retain Australian youth in search of adventure? Or is it a sign of a subtle but growing confidence in an Australian identity proud it can match it with the best abroad, including with the UK?

It is a good time to ask these questions. The recent federal election has brought the former head of the Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy to the Prime Ministership, and inevitably will raise the question of how a modern Australia should define itself and its relationship with the UK.

One Australian who has been thinking and writing about this question and is returning (albeit for a short time) to the UK is Geoff Gallop.

Geoff Gallop AC has been over to the UK more than a few times, including a stint at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, before later becoming premier of Western Australia between 2001 and 2006. He has subsequently joined academia and is

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The sober truthn Don’t remember what happened last night? Or the night before? Or the night before that? Drinking in London is a nightly affair, rather than a weekend pastime, which makes any attempt to sober up all the more difficult.

AS Oktoberfest celebrations and craft beer festivals across London drew to a close, many locals decided to take part in this year’s Go Sober for October charity fund raiser. While many had good intentions, I am sure others used the sober month to recuperate their livers, and bank balances in preparation for the upcoming Christmas season.

Reasons aside, anybody who tries to maintain sobriety for such a stretch of time should be applauded, especially in a city like London.

Me? I didn’t even bother. I realised early on the drinking

culture in London is a little different compared to my hometown, Brisbane.

In Brisbane, stories of binge drinking teens and young adults litter the pages of the Courier Mail or local rag, and in-depth analysis claims most violence and alcohol fuelled mayhem occurs on Friday and Saturday nights between midnight and 4am.

Meanwhile, in the UK, it is not uncommon to see work colleagues and friends out for a drink on a school night. In my experience, it is considered almost acceptable to turn up to work every so often with a hangover, or still drunk from the night before.

This new version of binge drinking - binge drinking 2.0 - is no longer confined to just the weekend. It’s a weeklong activity.

I was thrown into the pint glass, so to speak, and had to quickly learn which of the 200 plus pubs and clubs in the City of London offered the best deals, the best dance floor and the best ales. Lucky for me, I discovered the ‘trick of the trade’ for a personal assistant/team secretary in the City of London was to know all about the bars and the beers.

Since I am a great believer of researching before recommending, it wasn’t long before I was acquainted with events staff at most major pub chains, and became the key contact for those in the office searching for a good deal on a night out.

With this kind of attitude towards drinking during the work week, I

was unsurprised to find men and women reportedly drink over the recommended weekly alcohol limit (21 units for men, 14 units for women) and some regularly drink harmful quantities (over 50 units for men, and 35 for women). And binge-drinking and drunken behaviour are not unusual among older adults aged 30 to 50, squashing the theory we become more moderate with age.

Further evidence from the Medical Research Council reveals middle-aged drinkers in the UK still face pressure from their friends and peers to drink. Sometimes not drinking on a night out with friends, or work colleagues, requires more

explanation. Excuses

such as ‘I am

calorie counting’ or ‘I am participating in Go Sober for October’ are frequently used to get out of a large drinking session. While the phrase, ‘I’m not drinking tonight’, simply can’t be uttered without some shame or embarrassment.

After a year in London, I am still amazed when people turn up to work so hung over they can’t concentrate, or they brag of still being pissed from the night before. Surely this is more embarrassing?

I don’t have anything against alcohol, and I have often succumbed to one-too-many, but I do have a problem with the peer pressure to drink. Examples of the pressure we are faced with are drinking games such as Kings and Beer Pong, which admittedly I have eagerly taken part (or instigated). They are considered social entertainment but actually promote risky drinking in dangerous quantities.

Why is it young people and, more evidently, adults are getting drunk for the sake of it, without consideration of the consequences? The mental and physical health issues caused by alcohol are usually the last thing on your mind when you lift the first cold pint of ale to your lips after a long day at the office.

According to the nHS, even if you don’t drink alcohol every day, you

could be a binge drinker. Measures of binge drinking include if you

regularly drink to get drunk, if you regularly drink more than

the daily unit guideline in a single session, or if you

regularly drink quickly. Apparently it is only when you find it hard to stop drinking once you have started your binge drinking could

actually be alcohol dependence.

Some studies show drinking a large amount of alcohol over a short period of time may be significantly worse for your health than frequently drinking small quantities. Perhaps this is why people in London, in a bid to avoid binging, try to span their drinking out

over an entire week?In many cultures where consuming alcohol is off limits to those under the age of 18 or 21, we tend to be drawn to it as soon as we are of legal

drinking age; like drunks to a pub. But when did drinking in dangerous quantities and ridiculous drunken behaviour become somewhat socially acceptable?

Isn’t it better to have a night you will never forget rather than a night you will never remember?

29 October - 4 November 20136 | UK Life

IT'S number 41, ‘time for some fun’.Boogie on down to the Clapham

Grand, Friday 8 november for the very first Bogan Bingo Shitty Disco – a night of bingo, mayhem and serious shape throwing.

Kicking off the night with a game of Bogan Bingo, your ever devoted bogan hosts will then keep on trucking with a DJ set guaranteed to make your eyes water, and the dance floor burn.

The boys will be spinning hits from the 70’s to the naughties; number 85 ‘Staying alive’, number 17 ‘Dancing Queen’, and number 27 ‘stairway to heaven’. Expect rock, pop, hip-hop and disco, with a dash of power ballads to set the mood for the world’s first ever ‘slow-dance off’.

There may be a conga line; the punch may get spiked; there may be some pashing and dashing – who’s to say how it’s all going to pan out at the very first Bogan Bingo Shitty Disco.

You will also have the chance to win heaps of prizes including holidays from Travel Talk valued at over £800.

The dress code for the evening: prom kings, dancing queens, Bazza’s, Shazza’s, and flash dancers.

a local vibe here,” Lawson says. “Everyone from the surrounding

shops has already come in and introduced themselves and been really nice. And those are the roots Industrie really started on back in Australia so it’s good to find something like that over here.”

Lawson has spent the past month overseeing the set-up of the store, which has an old world feel, with tongue and groove panelling, timber shelving, metal work, floorboards, and classic art prints.

In terms of clothes, Industrie offers a range of practical and instinctively masculine clothes for every man.

“A lot of our stuff is traditional work wear, down to your work boots, which is a big focus of our footwear range. And then you’ve got your traditional jackets, with woodman vibe to it.

“We’ve also got those trend pieces. We’ve got some camo jackets, but we’ve also got cardigans, which are not going to go out of fashion.”

Industrie are currently offering a special promotional offer. Australians who come into the Covent Garden store with their Australian passport will receive a 20% discount.

“Every Aussie that’s come into the store, or who I’ve met here and told about the store, are super excited about the brand, whether they wear the stuff or not.

Industrie is also looking to hire full and part time sales assistants, so if you are looking for work in London, please drop your CV into the store or send it to jordan@industrie.com.au

n You are cordially invited to the very first Bogan Bingo Shitty Disco at the Clapham Grand on the 8 November.

Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting 7:30pm. Tickets are £7 advance, £10 on the door if available. Book your tables by visiting www.boganbingo.co.uk.

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Time for men to dress like menn Popular menswear brand Industrie has opened its first shop outside Australia in Covent Garden, and to celebrate they are offering all Australians who come into the store a special discount.

By Thomas Jones

AUSTRALIAn men’s clothing brand Industrie, are injecting a bit of testosterone back to London men’s fashion, with the opening of their new store in Covent Garden.

“He’s a masculine guy, but also stylish,” manager Jordan Lawson says, describing the Industrie man.

“It’s very different to that UK look, and I think that will set us apart. It’s not so much that preppy, pretty boy, everything skinny look. It caters to everyone. It’s very masculine. And that’s the typical Aussie guy.”

Founded in 1999, Industrie has become an institution in the Australian clothing market, with 86 stores throughout the country. Located in Earlham Street, Covent Garden, this is Industrie’s first store outside Australia.

“I think it’s a good starting place, as it one of the biggest cities in the world, and it’s a shopping mecca,” Lawson tells Australian Times.

“A lot of the styles of clothing work well in London. Obviously in Australia it’s a bit hard with our winters being so different in terms of temperature, but I think the fashion is similar.”

Industrie joins a number of independent UK and international fashion labels, which have opened flagship stores in the Seven Dials precinct over the past 12 months.

“As busy as London is, the area of Seven Dials and Covent Garden has more of a community feel. It’s still got those big shops you find on your high street, but there’s much more of

Entertainment | 7AustralianTimes.co.uk

Celebrating 40 years!1973-2013

TOPDECK

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

20131973

Coffee Cult visits Giddy Up

By Melinda Griffith

In a densely populated city like London, where the centre can feel like a concrete jungle, it’s no wonder the English share a kindred love for their beautiful parklands.

It was one of the first things Coffee Cult noticed when we arrived here, particularly throughout the warmer months. In some areas, barely a patch of grass is visible at lunchtimes and on weekends as vitamin D deprived Londoners soak up the rays – never sure when they will feel the sun’s kiss again.

In East London, the yummy mummies and rad dads watch on as their cute-as-a-button chino-clad children cut loose on their scooters. In the north, the swimming ponds (yes, ponds) at Hampstead Heath have provided swimmers with somewhat muddy relief from sticky, stagnant summer days since the mid-1800s. Mid-week, groups of twenty-something socialisers gather at their favourite patch after work, and cook up a meaty feast on disposable barbecues, ciders in hand. Squirrels scurry up tree trunks with eager dogs in hot pursuit, their owner’s frantic calls to no avail.

It’s no sandy beach. However the parks of London come pretty darn close to being one of Coffee Cult’s favourite haunts in the summer months. After all, who wouldn’t prefer to enjoy their coffee sitting perched on a picnic rug under an oak tree? Introducing, Giddy Up.

Out of Giddy Up’s five stalls, two are located in parks in the Islington area. The flagship opened in May 2011 in leafy Fortune Park, so they’re certainly not the new kids on the block. This stall is where we decided to meet owner Lee Harte for a coffee and catch up.

Apparently we were lucky to catch him there on this particular day. Many of his regular customers exclaimed with delight when they spotted his familiar smiley face behind the La Marzocco machine. In addition to managing other Giddy Up locations, his involvement with Coff Up - the Liberum Capital and St. Giles Trust initiative to get ex-offenders back in the workforce - has been keeping him busy.

A steady stream of customers came and went, mostly regulars. The machine, two grinders, a few bags of Square Mile beans, and the baked goods of the day, fit perfectly atop the wooden cart, with a little room spare for Lee to pour his perfect rosettas.

Many take a moment to quaff their coffees and chat with him about beans and machines, and watch on with keen interest as he talks them through the correct way to use an AeroPress brewing device. The

coffee itself was outstanding, perfect strength and temperature. Coffee Cult tastes a strong and sweet fruitiness on the palette, and we soon discover this is a fitting description of the seasonal Sweetshop blend by Square Mile.

If you need a little sugar rush, then Giddy Up won’t disappoint. This particular day it was banana bread on offer, baked fresh in the small kitchen behind the Fortune Park stall. This little space bakes enough to service the two Islington sites plus Floripa in Shoreditch. Coffee Cult has also spotted Cadbury smothered Anzac cookies in the past, so it’s well worth a visit just for the sweeties alone.

After making the move to Melbourne in 2000 from Shepparton in country Victoria, Lee realised his passion for coffee, and alternated between barista and manager at a number of different venues over the next nine years. He then cut his London teeth at Dalston coffee institution Tina, We Salute You, where he quote unquote “fell into the Square Mile crowd”. Following that, a stint at the Pitch 42 cart on Whitecross Market sealed his fate, and before he knew it, Giddy Up was born. Two and a half years later, there are five stalls around London, and plans for a permanent Giddy Up shop one day in the near future.

You certainly get your money’s worth at Giddy Up; proper coffee, interesting but approachable caffeine conversation, and a strong sense of the familiar. One visit to Giddy Up and we guarantee you’ll be drawn back again and again, like Londoners to the comforting warmth of the summer sun.

The Craic

The Crucials

The Connection

The Conclusion

29 October - 4 November 20138 | Entertainment

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BlAm! the mann 9 to 5 comes alive in BLAM! a new show at the Peacock Theatre where four office workers use their imagination and any available office equipment to create action packed adventures.

By Thomas Jones THREE office workers sit behind desks. Each faces a different direction so as to not distract each other. Regularly monitored by their boss, any interaction between the three is restricted to when he is looking in the other direction, or is away from his desk. Sound familiar?

The curtain at the Peacock Theatre is raised to reveal such a scenario. A standard office environment; fluorescent lights, black and white partitions, swivel chairs, filing cabinets and water coolers. The only colour; a green indoor plant (fake most likely) and yellow post-it notes.

Believe it or not, such a setting is deceptively inspiring. You just have to BLAM!

BLAM! is a new physical theatre production where three ingenious office workers, and their David Brent (Ricky Gervais in The Office) inspired boss take procrastinating to

another level. In order to escape the mundane of

the 9 to 5, they transform their office into a virtual reality, inhabited by superheroes, aliens, gangsters, and classic blockbuster villains.

With no dialogue, these imaginary adventures are brought to life through neck-breaking stunts, acrobatics, over-the-top characterisations, dynamic lighting and music, and the inventive use of everyday office equipment.

The audience delight at the performers level of ingenuity, applauding as they watch a water cooler spring to life, a hat stand become a machine gun, or a computer mouse turn into a two-way radio.

“The funny thing about using office stuff is that it takes the audience back to the good old days when people were inventive, they made their own fun,” says Kristjan Ingimarsson, the man behind BLAM!

“When I made this performance, I remembered the feeling that I got when I walked out of a really good movie. When I come out and I’m in the street, and for a minute or two I’m still in the movie, even though I’m outside. I was walking in slow-motion and nobody could see me. You’re still in the movie – that’s how I hope BLAM! will feel when you walk out.”

The show has been developed by Ingimarsson’s theatre company neander, which he founded in 1998. The cross-over appeal of this production is a departure from their previous experimental work.

“I wanted to do something funny – and have fun doing it. I wanted to get back to the basics, to find happiness inside myself.”

Scene by scene, the scale and

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ridiculousness of the BLAM! increases, and there is always a nice balance between action, humour and drama.

One of the highlights is set around a poker table, where the four office workers turn into gangsters. Cigarettes (rolled up post-its) in the mouths, they hold their cards close to their chests. This classic film scene is cleverly captured by the performers, as they seamlessly move the table in different directions. It’s incredibly cinematic, giving the audience various framed perspectives on the scene, including a birds-eye view. But nothing can anticipate the audience for the blockbuster climax,

which like all action movies is so loud and explosive.

The title of the show contains an exclamation mark, and rightly so, as BLAM on its own does not begin to capture the punch and power of this unbelievable day at work.

BLAM! is at the Peacock Theatre until 16 November 2013. To book tickets visit www.sadlerswells.com/

Entertainment | 9AustralianTimes.co.uk

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What’s onThe Jezabels12 November@Scala

Sarah Blasko1 December@Islington Assembly Hall

The Dead Daisies20 November@ The Underground

Jimeoin What?!23 November@Hammersmith Apollo

Cloud Control13 February@Heaven

The Australian Pink Floyd11 March@O2 Arena

@JamieKingPSG My new word for calling someone really hot is "quiche" so dont talk to me unless you're quiche @silkspectres i'm so glad that i get to live in a world where ja'mie: private school girl exists @dloveK22 Not even 5 minutes into it and l'm already cracking up laughing @reaIb2ng ja'mie private school girl basically sums up all the girls in my year level @anitasenaratna Watching Ja'mie and all I'm thinking is 'How are all these girls not getting in trouble for wearing their hair down?' @sammiiitaylor my thoughts on Ja'mie, to remind you that a 40 year old man in a dress does not represent the "private school girl" @JamieKingPSG Here's me reading the hunger games to the underprivileged black guys for charity, some of them are so quiche @melaniedeniss omg ja'mie private school girl i really want the word quiche to catch on haha @gemmaofficial Just watched the first Ja'mie Private School Girl..loved it!! So funny..Chris Lilley is a ledge!! @CALLUMdeLRey ja'mie driving is very reminiscent of my driving @edenwbu "like there's hot, and then there's quiche"

West End’s Leading Mann At the heart of the West End is the Queens Theatre, which is where you’ll find Australian Daniel Koek playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.

By Thomas Jones

“IT’S a dream,” says Australian musical theatre performer Daniel Koek.

“When it’s getting tough, I’ve just got to think; I get to go to work in the Queens Theatre doing Les Misérables in its 28th year, after the film’s just been released and I’m playing Valjean. It’s awesome.”

It is awesome, considering this is Koek’s first West End role.

“I’ve been in London nearly nine years. And everything I’ve done to date has been either touring or regional work. It’s absolutely the biggest thing, both from a career level, and the size of the part.”

Born in Gawler, a country town in South Australia, Koek (pronounced ‘Cook’) studied at the Conservatorium of Music at Adelaide University. He then moved to London in 2004 to do his Masters in musical theatre at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Prior to moving, Koek had spent two weeks in London on a holiday where he went to see a lot of theatre, including Les Misérables at The Palace.

“I don’t remember a lot of it,” he admits. “It was a long time ago, and I was poor then so I was up in the nosebleed section. But I remember being very impressed with the whole thing.

“If you asked me ten years ago if I ever thought I’d be playing the part, the answer would probably have been no, because it was not something I had my sights set on. But when the opportunity came to audition, I thought I can definitely sing that, and I can definitely play that part,” he tells Australian Times.

Koek started in the role of Jean Valjean on 17 June. “I was on a trial period for a while. This role is notoriously tough, especially with eight shows a week.

“I had no doubt I could do it. I knew from day one if I was given this opportunity, I was going to nail it. And there was a lot riding on it… And when they offered me this opportunity, it wasn’t a definite. It was the opportunity to perhaps play the part.”

To start Koek played the role once a week, with Gerónimo Rauch, the previous Valjean, performing the others

show. Gradually the number of shows increased, and then six weeks later Koek was offered the role on a full time basis.

If you’re not one of the 65 million people around the world who have seen Les Misérables, the musical, based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, is set in 19th century France. Koek plays Jean Valjean, an ex-convict.

“In the beginning of the show he is an animal. He is completely and utterly uncivilised. He’s been in jail 19 years. He even thinks he can’t be redeemed. He is absolutely at his wits end. He’s tired. He’s cold. He’s probably sick.

“He makes himself good through the opportunity where he gets silver from a priest, and goes to make a life for himself based on the fact he knows he’s been blessed by God. He becomes a very religious man.”

As part of this self-redemption, Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s young daughter Cosette.

“He takes in this young girl, because he can’t live with the fact he turned her mother away. He brings her up as his daughter. He thinks that redeems the fact he was such an animal all those years ago.”

Throughout the show, Valjean is hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert for breaking parole.

“He [Valjean] is a kind soul. However there’s never a point throughout the show, there’s not that animal side to him…So there’s always that element of him bubbling away. He’s constantly having to put the lid back on that side of himself he’s closed the door on.”

For Koek, this is a departure from his previous roles, including Tony in West Side Story, Lt Cable in South Pacific, Father Frank Jr in Saturday night Fever, and Anatoly Sergievsky in Chess.

“The parts I’ve played to date are your typical leading man; upright and straight…It’s very easy to play ‘astute young gentlemen’, rather than a guy that’s had all this crap.

“I haven’t been in jail 19 years, so obviously I can’t associate with that…I had to work hard at encompassing that part of the character. But essentially he’s kind. He’s got a good heart. And he wants to please God.”

Les Misérables originally opened

in London at the Barbican Theatre in October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre a few months after, and moved to its current home at the Queens Theatre in April 2004.

When Les Misérables celebrated its 21st London birthday in 2006, it became the World’s Longest Running Musical. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating its historic 10,000th performance.

Today Koek says: “It’s going great…especially after the film business here has gone nuts. They’re selling I think 20 or 30 standing tickets a night at the moment. People are standing up for three hours to watch it. They just don’t care, they just want to be here.”

Why is the show so popular, after such a long time?

“First and foremost it’s the story. The story is timeless. And on top of that you put the music, which has been orchestrated for it, and it’s not going anywhere. And the film has given it legs for another 28 years.

“It has all the ingredients of a good musical. In this day and age things come and go because I think essentially the

stories are not good, and they try and flounce it out with all these effects and music. And Les Miserable is timeless.

“It’s one of the shows, even if you haven’t seen it, you could always hum me a song from it,” Koek says.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’, ‘One Day More’, ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, ‘Master Of The House’ and many more.

On top of his lead role in one of the West End’s biggest shows, Koek is also in the studio working on a second solo album, which is expected to be released in March 2014.

“Historically people who’ve played this part have gone on to have very successful solo careers. So I’m hoping to follow in their footsteps.

“I released one album back in 2005, coinciding with my first leading role, which was Tony in West Side Story. That did very well. But now I’m looking to release a new album in that genre of pop opera, classical crossover, Il Divo, Josh Groban-esque type of thing.

“I’m classically trained, so I’m just trying to play to my strengths. And it’s a genre of music I really like playing around with, taking a song and turning it into something of this genre.”

In terms of musicals, Les Misérables is a favourite of audiences around the world. In terms of leading roles, it doesn’t get much tougher than Jean Valjean. And in terms of theatre districts, the West End is one of the biggest and the best.

In the centre of it all: Daniel Koek. “I came to London to perform on

the west end and it’s taken me nine years. But now I’m doing it. I had to tick that box and hopefully from there other doors will open up, and my recordings will all take off.”

Les Miserable is at the Queens Theatre. For more information and to buy tickets visit www.lesmis.com.To learn more about Daniel Koek visit www.danielkoek.com.

29 October - 4 November 201310 | Travel

Image by osamukaneko

n Don’t worry, be happy as MICHAEL MCCORMICK gives you everything you need to know to navigate, and celebrate one of the beautiful cities in the world.

Happily Ever Vienna

Travel | 11AustralianTimes.co.uk

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WHAT if you could combine classical music, amazing architecture, shopping galore, and a schnitzel in the one trip? If this sounds like your kind of holiday look no further

than Vienna.not only is Vienna one of the most

livable cities in the world, it is also one of the most beautiful, and very deliberately so.

Fit for royaltyThe Habsburgs, who ruled over most of Europe for many centuries, called Vienna home and they liked to make their presence known, felt, and remembered.

Vienna homes a few palaces which associate themselves with this famous bloodline, but none more popular than the Imperial Palace from which the Habsburg’s

Empire was ruled. nowadays one of the cities main

attractions, the Vienna Boys’ Choir can be heard during High Mass on Sunday in the Gothic Imperial Chapel, deep within the Palace's walls.

Post-War ViennaIf, like me, you're a history buff, the uniquely Viennese exhibit at the Third Man

Museum will whet your appetite nicely. You get a real sense of the gritty underbelly of Vienna in the years immediately following World War II, as portrayed in the film of the same name.

The museum features photographs, artifacts, and original scripts from the film, which was a huge box office success of its time, and starred Orson Welles, The film created great controversy when it was screened in Vienna, and was shut down after only a short run. This being the case, the museum was unable to gain government funding and is privately

owned, allowing it to maintain its historical accuracy. It opens for the public between 2-6pm every Saturday, or you can book a private group tour throughout the week.

Museum madWhile the Third Man museum shows the alternative Vienna most locals would like to keep buried, there are plenty of other museums they love to

boast about. One in particular is the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Sometimes referred to as the Museum of Fine Art, the Kunsthistorisches collection

was officially opened by Franz Joseph I, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, around

1891. Since then it has undergone numerous restorations but the magnificent

architecture from its inception remains.

It is centrally located on the Ringstrabe - which roughly translates to Ring Road - and can be easily accessed via the Ring Tram, which will also take you around the city and to all of the other noteworthy sites Getting aroundMost of the major attractions are within walking distance but if you’re not keen on

walking all day, there are plenty of alternatives.

The train system in Vienna is quite simple. The main lines you will catch are the

S-Bahn and the U-Bahn, however if you are staying in the city, most tourist destinations are within a half hour walk.

Public transport is convenient and relatively affordable however, and if you were there only for a weekend trip, it would be the better option. A single ticket on any train, tram or bus costs 2 Euros. If you feel you need to take public transport four or

29 October - 4 November 201312 | Travel

bus and train system from Westbanhof is easy and quite cheap compared to other major European cities. The airport bus costs eight euros, which is a bit pricey in comparison to the train, which will get you there in slightly less comfort, but for half the price.

If you decide against flying, trains also leave from Westbanhof to many other European destinations such as Munich and Salzburg. Until recently, there was only one main provider of trains to these and other destinations however there is now competition from private companies which means cheaper fares for travellers.

I recommend a day trip to Salzburg on the Westbahn train for almost half the price of the main train service. For only 50 Euros return you can enjoy comfortable seats, air-conditioning or heating (depending on the season), and Wi-Fi the whole way in these brand new state of the art trains.

Once in Salzburg, it’s a very easy 15-20 minute walk to the old town, which is the main attraction. While you're there, you can fit in the Sound of Music tour and check out Mozart’s birthplace, and be back to Vienna in time for a schnitzel dinner, followed of course by a pub-crawl.

*

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more times in 24 hours, a day pass would be your best option. This will set you back around 7 Euros, but is well worth it to get you between the expansive city attractions quickly.

Wherever you are located it’s quite easy to find your way to the city centre by train. Stephansplatz is a station in the heart of the city and as well as being the shopping district, from here you can walk to most of Vienna's famed museums.

A short train ride will land you in Westbanhof - the backpackers district and train hub leading on to various local, national and international destinations.

This gritty, alternative part of Vienna contrasts the elaborate architecture just a short distance away nicely. It is also where you'll find a lot of cheap bars and clubs, and plenty of expats as well.

Try the pub-crawl, which leaves from one of the backpacker’s bars and takes you to a lot of the popular and not so popular party venues around the neighbourhood. Expect a lot of cheap drinks and a very sore head the next morning.

Getting out of ViennaWhen the time comes to finally move on with your Euro trip, you have a couple of options which will get you to where you need to be. The

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Travel | 13AustralianTimes.co.uk

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The great British Camp-offn Cultures collide in a new column from wife and mother ALEX BLACKIE, who shares the ups and downs of her Anglo-Australian family life in London. This week she proves it’s no pain, no gain to camping in the rain.

dIFFeReNTSTROKeS > ALEX BLAcKIE

AS winter closes in, this was our last chance for a weekend camping so we headed off to Three Cliffs, a glam camping site near Swansea in Wales. The views were breath-taking. I’d really recommend this spot to the hardy out there before it closes for winter in november (and nope, I don’t know the owners so there’s no commission going on here).

now, hear me out and play ‘spot the difference’:

Three Cliffs in Swansea

Seven Mile beach in New South Wales

Wales does pretty well, doesn’t it? Especially considering it’s running against one of Australia’s most superb spots, according to me – tell me if you beg to differ.

So off we went for a weekend ‘camp-off’ organised with (and against) a cousin. She owns the crème de la crème of camping gear (they even bought a four wheel drive to fit it all in) but we have a strong reputation for consistent basic camping so ... the war was on.

Apart from different tastes in tents, tables and blow-up mattresses, we noticed a few other differences between camping in Australia and here. When we’ve camped on communal Aussie sites, everyone’s

tent faces the centre area and you rapidly start eating and socialising with other families. However, here, people tend to pitch their tents so their doors face a bush or their friend’s tent. I suppose it’s like my family’s obsession with privacy. I remember the first time Lawza suggested I open a letter addressed to him, “I can't do that” I yelped.

And also, Brits seem to have loads of temporary walls and shields protecting the boundaries of their pitches. Granted it’s partly due to the weather, but is it the only reason?

So in our idyllic spot, along with studying the local folk and competing with my cousin’s collapsible kettle and luminescent guy ropes, I spent all my time running around the beach with my cousin and the children. Of course, Lawza wouldn’t go near the freezing water but these British kids have no issue with purple lips and swimming in the rain.

In Sydney, we didn't realise our first camping trip together was Lawza's training for times to come. We were at Seven Mile Beach and completely alone once the torrential rain began.

Seven years into life here, we have not had a single rain-free camping trip. Usually it’s just a pain. However this summer in Chinon, France, the weather went a bit far. It was another perfect spot, this time overlooking the river, town and castle, along with an Aussie-type public pool with grassy area.

In a local cafe the morning after the worst storm we learnt: when the tall man went downstairs to check on his baby chicks eleven were dead, one remained shaking but then just dropped dead too; the cafe owner’s tobacco leaves were flooded and destroyed; and the baker’s sister’s wedding was ruined because all the gazebos and tents had blown away.

By the way, according to my uncle, our independent ‘camp off’ judge, my cousin won on grounds of taste (Cath Kidson table cloths, and proper cutlery) but we won on practicality. Lawza was happy - pride intact - and so was my House & Gardens cousin.

Image by Thomas Guest

Im

age

by

Ben

Sal

ter

29 October - 4 November 201314 | Professional Life

The head of Australia's largest regional lender says current banking regulations have left it "having to fight with one hand tied behind our back" compared to the big four banks.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank chief executive Mike Hirst says regulations put in place since the global financial crisis have put smaller lenders at a disadvantage compared to their larger counterparts.

"Size is a powerful ally in any endeavour. In banking in Australia it provides larger players with funding and regulatory advantages that ultimately restrict consumer choice," he told shareholders at the bank's annual general meeting on Monday.

"It should be obvious that the impost of regulation is more acute the smaller an institutions is, simply because there is a certain fixed cost of regulation that is diluted depending on how many transactions it is spread across"

His statements were backed by the bank's chairman Robert Johanson,

who said regulations that required banks to hold greater levels of capital and imposed more stringent controls on deposit takers had led to a greater concentration in the financial services sector.

"The position of the major banks is now quite dominant even as they compete vigorously between themselves," he said.

"They enjoy some very significant competitive advantages."

Mr Hirst said he hoped the Abbott government's planned financial services inquiry would consider ways to level the playing field for smaller lenders.

He said the review could consider providing "a hierarchy of priorities" for regulations to ensure banking resources were best targeted to address the greatest problems.

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Can Aussie expats still buy property in Australia?n We regularly get asked how Australia has been affected by the GFC and what this means for Aussie expats. How easy is it to get a mortgage back home?In the aftermath of the GFC the way that banks lend money has been radically changed.

We regularly get asked how Australia has been affected and what this means for Aussie expats.

How much can you borrow?

If you are in a good financial position, and you have a high income with stable employment, you may be able to borrow up to 95% of the property value.

This can also apply to Australians who have a dual citizenship or are married to a UK citizen.

If you are married to a UK citizen, many lenders will assess you as being foreigners, however there are other lenders who will assess you as Australian citizens. This distinction can make a large difference to how much you can borrow.

The key is to apply with the right lender. If you are assessed as a foreigner then your loan will be limited to 80% of the property value and you may not get the same interest rate discounts.

Will I need a deposit?When you buy a property in Australia

you will need to provide a minimum deposit of 5% of the purchase price.

You will also need to have enough funds to pay stamp duty and other expenses associated with purchasing a house. That normally adds up to another 5%, which means that you need 10% of the purchase price in total.

nowadays most Australian banks prefer to see a steady, regular savings pattern without lump sum payments. If you didn’t save the money yourself then you may be declined.

If you have a larger deposit or already own property in Australia then you may not be required to prove that you saved the deposit yourself.

Is it harder to get a loan if you are self-employed or a contractor?

If you are living in the UK and are self-employed then it may be harder to get a home loan in Australia.

The majority of lenders will require you to be self-employed for at least two years and some lenders do not lend to self-employed people living outside of Australia.

new discounts available for professionals

Did you know that Australian banks have just upped the ante and started competing with each other to lend to particular professions?

If you are a doctor, lawyer or accountant then you may be eligible for special discounts, or a lender may waive particular requirements for your mortgage.

Some lenders will often waive Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) for some professionals, which makes it much cheaper to borrow over 80% of the property value.

Whilst, expats are eligible for this, they cannot be borrowing with a non-Australian citizen.

Obtaining a professional discount depends on how you present your situation to the lender. As always, the key to borrowing as an expat is to apply with the right lender!

Home Loan Experts is an Australian mortgage broking company that specialises in Australian expats and UK investors. Go to www.homeloanexperts.com.au to find out more about buying property in Australia.

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the first one ended. After a 40-20 from Cam Smith which saw Australia in great attacking position, it was Dragons winger (and Legend) Brett Morris who went over in the corner to make it 22-10 and give us a two converted try lead.

After some silly back-to-back penalties in the 52nd minute, England scored again through the likes of George Burgess who stormed his way over the line and with Sinfield’s conversion successful, suddenly it was a 6-point ball game.

A penalty to Australia saw Thurstone kick us to outside a converted try and hold the score at 24-16. It was at this stage the English heads went down and Australia, capitalising on another penalty, put Darius Boyd over in the corner after some slick back lines moves.

With the game sealed up, England scored a final try when Josh Charnley scooped up a loose pass from Billy Slater and raced uninterrupted to the try line. With Sinfield unable to add the extras Australia ran out 28-20 winners in what can only be described as a close and fiery encounter by two teams who want to win this tournament.

With a great win an end to an even better night, this opening match was living proof international Rugby League is back and stronger than ever. If you get the chance I urge you to get along to a few games and cheer our boys home.

years to more than 5,000 players and the majority are nationals of their own countries rather than Australian expats. This figure also includes a small but growing number of school and junior participants who register for 6 week long programs.

There is also a growing pathway for talented athletes from Europe to test themselves in the elite AFL competitions. Daniel Flynn (Kildare) has just been listed with Port Adelaide as an AFL International Rookie and will move to Australia to join the AFL Club in coming weeks.

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THURSDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2013 AT THE TWICKENHAM STOOP, KO 7.45PM

TIME FOR REVENGE! GET BEHIND YOUR TEAM

Harvey Thorneycroft Ltd

RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. THE ENGLAND ROSE IS AN OFFICIAL REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

To book hospitality visit www.sportingclass.com or email rhysf@sportingclass.com

To book tickets to the match, visit the Harlequins website www.quins.co.uk or

call the ticket hotline 0871 527 1315

To book tickets to the Official Anniversary Gala Dinner, visit

www.rfu.com/tenyearanniversary

R E M E M B E R . R E L I V E . R E U N I T E

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEATHROW EXPRESS

ENGLAND LEGENDS V AUSTRALIA LEGENDS

november 2012 drawing a crowd of 10,000 people to the Oval, AFL Europe Combine – Dublin, followed by the Easter Series, to the AFL European Championship held in Ireland in August, the 2013 Axios Euro Cup in Bordeaux this September, and the upcoming 2013 AFL Combine also to be staged in Dublin in early December.

Participation across the 21 member nations has grown over the past three

WE had four teams enter into the new Canary Wharf league: Canary Dwarfs, Razzle Dazzle, Look Don't Touch and Individually Active. Some of the individual teams had played Active Touch in the Wandsworth competition, so this gave them the advantage, and they finished the season unbeaten.

For the Tuesdays League at Wandsworth we had 4 teams competing for the top prize. It started off with the 3rd vs 4th playoffs. Ralph Wiggums Wingmen started off the scoring with some very skilful plays. Galaxy however would not let that get the best of them and came back fighting scoring some quick touchdowns and winning the playoffs 13 – 9.

next up was the Final between Hot Custard against Hot Custard. Both teams pulled out all the stops, with lots of running and amazing plays to score some fantastic touchdowns. In the end the Hot Custard team won the game 8 -6.

The strong Thursday evening Wandsworth playoffs saw a fun, fast paced game with Hot Custard vs

Hot Custard Jagermaestros playing for the 3rd position. John Boyes and Laurie Young were in fine form for Hot Custard Jagermaestros producing some amazing touchdowns. Their team did all they could but Hot Custard were also on top form with Angela Verniquet and “Alan/Steve” scoring some great touchdowns putting Hot Custard into the lead. The final score was 16 – 12 to Hot Custard.

It was the Finals for the Thursday league with Tumeke taking on BBR London. Everyone put in all the effort they could but ultimately Tumeke won the final 10 – 8.

We want to say a big congratulations to all the teams competing in our Active Touch leagues in Canary Wharf and Wandsworth and look forward to the next season starting shortly! There are new leagues starting from the 4th november in both venues on Mondays at Canary Wharf and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wandsworth.

To enter a team or as an individual into any of these leagues, you can register on our website at www.in2touch.com or you can send an email to tracy@in2touch.com

By Tracy Andrew

Stronger than ever

Final week of late summer action

Aussies Looking for International Cup gloryBy Phillip Browne

THE popular Try Tag Rugby International Cup tournament which will be Try Tag Rugby’s last one-day tournament for the year will be taking place on Saturday 2 november at Twyford Avenue Sports Ground in Acton.

The tournament which kicks off at 11am will feature London based players from the following countries: Australia, England, France, Ireland, new Zealand, Scotland, Wales, and the Barbarians (all other nationalities) battle it out across three divisions for International Cup silverware.

This tournament is a chance to bring together players from all across the capital to don their national colours and represent their nations with pride, whilst making a heap of new friends in the process

and enjoying a brilliant party after the tournament.

The Aussies are the reigning Mixed A grade champions and were runner’s up to the Kiwis in the men’s division at the last International Cup tournament in June, so they will be looking to defend their title and claim more titles in the other divisions.

In other news, Try Tag Rugby’s Late Autumn competitions commenced last week (22 October) at the following venues: Barnes, Battersea Park, Borough, Clapham Common, Holloway (north London), Rotherhithe, Shoreditch Park, Tooting Bec and White City.

It’s still not too late for teams, and individuals looking to be placed in a team, to join some leagues. If you would like to play in a Late Autumn Tag Rugby competition, please register ASAP. The leagues cater for all standards of players from the complete beginner to the advanced.

If you would like to get involved in a Try Tag Rugby competition or event before the big cold comes back to London, go to www.trytagrugby.com or email info@trytagrugby.com for more details.

Consistency the key for touring WallabiesBy Emma Kemp

WALLABIES coach Ewen McKenzie has some pretty simple goals heading into his first northern hemisphere tour, which starts on Saturday in London.

"We're out there to win - five wins would be good," McKenzie told reporters on checking in at Sydney International Airport on Friday.

"We're not out there to come second so we're out there to win every game and obviously get some consistency.

"Winning one game is not enough. We've got to win consistently."

Five wins would give the Wallabies their first grand slam in nearly three decades, a fair target for a squad determined to restore pride after a difficult 2013 in which they managed just three Test wins from 10 attempts.

It is the squad's second tour of the Home nations since their one and only sweep in 1984, when coach Alan Jones and skipper Andrew Slack led them to a startling triumph - legendary five-eighth Mark Ella scoring a try in all four Test wins.

Their last attempt in 2009 failed in just the second match when they drew 20-20 with Ireland.

A five-from-five result would represent some measure of revenge after this year's devastating series loss to the British and Irish Lions.

It would also provide McKenzie with a massive springboard towards the 2015 World Cup in England.

Their first and toughest stop on the road to redemption will be London's Twickenham Stadium this Saturday, when they'll face England before travelling to Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Polo or footy?

P15

FINAL WEEK OF LATE SUMMER ACTION

In2Touch

...continued on p15

AFL Europe announced today that His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, has accepted an invitation to become Patron of the organisation for the next two years, lending his name and support to programs to develop the game, particularly for young people.

Prince Charles has a strong interest in developing young people and it is this passion, combined with his long-held fondness for Australia, which led to his decision to support AFL Europe.

Chairman of the AFL Commission, Mike Fitzpatrick, who is in Ireland as part of the 2013 International Rules Series, warmly welcomed the support of the Prince of Wales.

“The AFL Commission is dedicated to the long-term growth of our game, not just in Australia, but internationally. To have the support of someone as highly regarded as the Prince is a fantastic opportunity for AFL Europe to develop the game,” Fitzpatrick said.

“Prince Charles spent a year studying in Australia in 1966 and has been here many times since. He clearly has a great affection for Australia so we know this is the beginning of a long and mutually rewarding relationship between the Prince and the AFL.”

Speaking about the new role today, AFL Europe CEO Ben MacCormack said “AFL Europe is thrilled to have The Prince of Wales as our Patron. It’s a huge honour and we believe his support will greatly assist us to reach new audiences as we introduce Australian Football into schools and communities across Europe.”

AFL Europe also hopes to stage another AFL Challenge Match in London in 2014 in which The Prince of Wales would be invited to attend.

The past year has been a very busy one for the young organisation, with the Challenge Match between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in

PrinCE of WAlEs BEComEs PATron of Afl EUroPE

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SPORTEYES ON THE PRIZEn The opener to the Rugby League World Cup in Cardiff saw Australia get off to a slow start against a fiery and competitive England side, but the Kangaroos were determined to show why they are favourites, coming back to steal the win 28-20.

By George Katralis

TRADITIOnALLY the end of the Rugby League season is met with a sense of sadness and depression.

For seven months we’ve followed our team through thick and thin. We’ve sat in the cold wet stadiums wearing our jerseys and scarfs with pride. Witnessing the heroic wins and painful losses. Feeling every emotion possible, from jubilation to heartache. Defending our team’s honour at all costs, so much pride on the line you’d even tell your best mate to go find the nearest lake to jump if he dissed your team. And that’s not even mentioning the State of Origin. next year Blues!

But the worst feeling of the season end is it’s a good six months before it all kicks off again, and if you don’t much like cricket, what else can you do in that time?

The consolation is a few extra weeks of footy as the seasons end is usually met with the representative games. 17 of our best don the green and gold and run out under the guise of the Kangaroos. But lets face it. With the whitewash that Australia usually dish out to teams and the lop sides score lines that come with it, you may as well think you were watching a game of cricket.

In a game where Australia has always been dominant, international Rugby League has suffered over the years. It’s become predictable and boring and people have switched off. Yes, we all love a win, but when it’s a 60-0 try fest even the most die-hard fans get bored. But I assure you, it’s all changed and those one-sided events are just a memory of the past.

Thanks to the strength of the Burgess Brothers and the leadership and skills of Kevin Sinfield and Sam Tomkins, the English team match their class with the likes of traditional rivals new Zealand and the nRL studded Italian national team, who I believe will be the dark

horse of this competition after their convincing win against Wales.

With these teams showing early signs of class, my prediction is we’ll soon be begging for the return of the whitewash glory days. And if you don’t believe me, I need just remind everyone of who’s currently holding the Rugby League world cup. Here’s a hint; it isn’t Australia.

Travelling up to Cardiff to see the Rugby League World Cup opening ceremony and the Australia vs England curtain raiser, it was clear this will to be a World Cup to remember.

After a spectacular opening ceremony with acrobatics and coloured flames, the record crowd for Rugby League world cup opening match were all in full voice, making

it obvious us Aussies were clearly out numbered.

The English wasted no time in making us look amateur as they sniffed out some poor defence and raced to a 4-0 lead though a great back line play which combined stars James Roby, Kevin Sinfield, Rangi Chase and Tomkins who sent Ryan Hall crashing over in the corner.

not making light of this lead and not wanting to let Ausatralia in, Sinfield produced some magic in the form of an infield kick, which was collected and grounded by Leroy Cudjoe in the 19th minute to give England a 10-0 lead.

The sluggish start, which was very un-Australian quickly had people questioning the Kangaroo’s choice to have no warm up matches leading

into this competition, but as pride was on the line, the World Cup favourites quickly jumped into second gear with Greg Inglis providing some freakish magic to put Jonny Thurstone over. After adding the extras, Thurstone, who by his standards was having a quiet game, stepped up and combined with Captain Cam Smith to put Greg Bird over the line.

With seconds left in the half and after receiving a scrum feed after a Sam Burgess forward pass, it was some Billy Slater that saw the fullback slice open the English defence and score a solo try to end the first half 18-10.

The second half started much as

Image by AAP Image/Jon Reid

HERE TO WIN

Wallabies coach says it’s coming together | p15