There are lots of reasons why an individual might not want to put their hand on their heart and heartily sing “Advance Australia Fair” at a sporting event. One might think that the words of the song are not only trite and childish but also inaccurate and it would thus be hypocritical to boom them out. If you were an indigenous Australian you might feel the anthem … [Read more...]
How do television networks determine the market value of their presenters?
According to news services Channel 9 sports broadcaster, Erin Molan, had been receiving a pay package that was a fraction of what some of her male colleagues (who were doing much the same job) were receiving. According to reports a recent pay increase has somewhat addressed the discrepancy. When asked to explain the pay disparity between male and female employees doing … [Read more...]
The things that made me… Jana Pittman
Two times world champion, four times Commonwealth champion, in the sport of athletics, Jana Pittman swapped the track for the ice, joining the Australian Women’s bobsleigh team, to become the first women to represent Australia in both a Summer and Winter Olympic games. Jana is one of only nine international athletic champions (along with the likes of Valerie Adams and Usain … [Read more...]
What does the “black-face” incident and its aftermath tell us about sport in Australia?
Where do I start with this one? The background. A few months back Alice Kunek (Bulleen Boomers basketballer and member of the Australian Opals national team) posted images of herself in “black-face” dress-up on the internet. Her Opals team mate, Liz Cambage (an Australian of Nigerian heritage), expressed disappointment and disgust that a team mate of hers could think … [Read more...]
The Julian Rocks – a critter-filled snorkelling adventure
Socrates put down his basketball and rolled up his wrestling mat for a day to try out one of Byron Bay's most unforgettable adventure experiences and asks himself why he hadn't done it many years earlier. Julian Rocks is reputed to be one of the world's best scuba diving experiences and while Socrates only took the lesser snorkelling option he was still gobsmacked by the extent … [Read more...]