There have been a number of drug related incidents in sport over the last year across many of the football codes & other sports alike. Drug related incidents have raised there ugly heads in AFL, Rugby League, Union & Cycling just to name a few.

In Australia, it has become clear to me that there is differing standards in each sport & very little input & guidance from the government. In Rugby League, one player from the Cowboys was given a slap on the wrist with no suspension & yet another 6 months later cops a 2 year band. In AFL, they have come up with a 3 strike policy, basically saying that if you take drugs, we’ll give you 2 chances.

Some sports believe in publicly naming their players & yet others do not. Some support the players by guiding them through the hardship & others wipe there hands of the player.

Plenty of inconsistencies, this is where the government needs to jump in & help set up a standard drug policy across the board. Until this happens, it just doesn’t seem fair!

Have your say. What do you think about the differing drug policies of our sporting codes in Australia? And do you believe the government has a role to play?

Australia’s biggest takeover is to go ahead with Wesfarmers to buy the country’s second biggest retailer, the Coles Group, for $22 billion.

In a deal announced late this afternoon, the company behind hardware retailer Bunnings will pay $17 a share for the company, after a four month strife torn auction process.

Today is another example of large corporations getting richer. There are a handful of companies that seem to be buying everything. Companies today appear to be more brutal to the consumer, employee & the environment. Not to mention a lack of loyalty!

Have your say right here! What role do you believe the corporation is playing in Australian society?

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The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for nineteen days each Winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that cast a celebratory mood over the city. The Festival enjoys annual admissions of 170,000 – 180,000, making it one of Melbourne’s significant public events.

In addition to screening films from around fifty countries, MIFF is Australia’s largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent.

Melbourne International Film Festival 25 July – 12 August 2007.

Read more right here!

Entries for Short & Sweet, the biggest 10-minute theatre festival in the world, are now open! Entries close 31st July 2007.

Here’s the skinny on what it’s all about:

* Your script has to be 10-minutes or less – so no stressing about the second act
* Other than the 10-minute form there’s no theme for the Festival, we’re looking for the  best 60 scripts
* Your script could be performed at the Arts Centre
* There’s $20,000 in prizes to be won
* You can write about anything you want
* The style is up to you
* You don’t have to be an experienced writer – absolutely anyone can enter!

All it takes is a good idea. So think big, but also short, in fact 10 minutes short!

What are you waiting for? Get writing!

Read more here

Now in it’s fifth successful year, ‘Realise Your Dream’ is a unique program that helps to launch our next generation of creative artists. Talented young Australian filmmakers are being offered a rare opportunity to work with a top UK professional, thanks to the British Council’s 2007 Realise Your Dream scheme.

Realise Your Dream is open to Australians between 21-28 years of age working or studying in creative fields including film, design, architecture, advertising, music, fashion, animation, multimedia, performing arts and computer games.

The British Council Australia is behind the unique scheme and uses its powerful UK network to find suitable mentors and money-can’t-buy work experience for the six winners.

The prize covers return airfares to the UK and $8,000 toward relevant course fees, accommodation and living expenses for each winner. Entries close 31 July, 2007.

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Cool the Planet Bite by Bite

10am-4pm Sunday 22 July 2007
Petersham Town Hall
107 Crystal Street, Petersham

At the Expo, learn more about:

* The powerful impact of the meat and dairy industries on the planet
* Better health and quality of life for ourselves and our families
* Better quality of life for the animals

Exciting entertainment (including Deni Hines pictured above), fascinating speakers, great stalls and fantastic vegan food!

Bring your friends and family for a great day out!

See more here

Picture: DJ G-Wizard

Whether you want infectious pop, electro beats, drum’n’bass, bustin’ hip hop or even just some scratch, the DJs competing in the 2007 DMC World DJ Championship can satisfy any aural desire.

In the Australian leg of the world tour, capital cities play host to their state’s contenders by giving each the opportunity to represent. Later the state champs go head-to-head to decide the best in the nation, with the overall winner jetting off to Paris to take on the world.

Tuesday 17 July 2007 – Metro Nightclub, 20 Bourke St, Melbourne.

Thursday 26 July 2007 – Gaelic Theatre, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.

See more right here

The recipients of the 2007 National Awards for Excellence in School Music Education will be announced at the opening ceremony of the XVI Australian Society for Music Education 40th Anniversary National Conference, in Perth, on Saturday 7th July 2007, by The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training.

In response to the 2005 report of the National Review of School Music Education, a National Awards for Excellence in School Music Education Project is to be funded by the Australian Government under the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme. The awards are to be administered by the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME).

Each recipient will receive a grant to the value of $5,000 to further their professional learning related to music education.

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The finalists of the Lexus Young Chef award and, for the first time this year, the Lexus Young Waiter award have been unveiled for 2007.

Young Waiter finalist include Jason Chow (Aria Restaurant—NSW), Jayde Phillips (Circa, The Prince—Victoria), Claire Horsfield (Alchemy Restaurant & Bar—Qld), Jai Leighton (The Grange, Hilton Adelaide—SA), Sarah Bartlett (Stillwater—Tasmania).

The Young Chef finalists are Kyle Quy (360 Dining—NSW/ACT), Jenna Abbruzzese (Café Latte—Victoria), Nicholas Hill (E’cco Bistro—QLD), Melanie Gowers (Adelaide Convention Centre—SA), David Flukes (The Henry Jones Art Hotel—WA), Damien Bolger (Veritas—WA).

The 11 finalists were assessed and selected by more than twenty of Australia’s food industry leaders. The judging process is a two stage process designed to ensure objectivity with the finalists being selected on the basis of a majority vote from the national judging panel.

The Lexus Young Chef and Lexus Young Waiter state finalists will soon embark on an all expenses paid tour of WA including visits to leading primary producers, winemakers and vineyards. 

Read more here

Australia’s population has reached an estimated 21 million.

The milestone is thought to have been achieved about 9.32pm and 58 seconds (AEST) on Friday, according to an online clock operated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) that estimates the country’s resident population.

The world population as of Friday was an estimated 6.605 billion, according to a clock kept by the US Bureau of Census.

Read more here