Juventus VS A-league all stars

-Josh Song

As a multicultural city, Sydney always appears her charm in many aspects to people-politics, sporting, arts, food……

Sporting is definitely an attractive element in multicultural construction. Sydneysiders love sports, Australia football, surfing, cricket, soccer, basketball. In one word, Sydney is a city birth for sports.

Soccer is one of the popular sports in this multicultural city, even though the audience of soccer is not more than Australia football, but they still have a large number of supporters. The fever fans attractive some big teams from Europe to attend friendship match in Sydney.

In Sunday 10 August, a friendship match was played in ANZ stadium, A-league all-star against Juventus which won the champion of Serie A from Italia. The Italian champion seems haven’t adopt Sydney’s winter, after Del Piero- the previous Juventus captain shoot at 7 minute, Another chance occurred at 9 minute, Marcelo Carrusca, the midfielder from Adelaid have found the opportunity, he catch the pass from Brisbane midfielder Thomas Broich and scored. 1:0, A-league all-star lead the game.

In the next time, Juventus try to dominate the attack to give all-star pressure. However, their defence still looks terrible. Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of Juventus just use three defenders in this match, the consequence is all-star almost score again in first half. Until the time comes to the end of first half, Tevez, the Argentina star just finished the first shoot of Juventus.

When the second half begins, Juventus attacks stronger than the first half and change the score at 58 minutes, Evra cross from the left side, Fernando Llorente scored with a heading, 1:1.

When the game playing at 68 minutes, both of two sides have make substitution in the game. All-star substitute Del Piero by William, Juventus change their goalkeeper Buffon to Stolari, the 37 years old keeper from Pisa. After 5 minutes, all-star score again, the substitute striker Ulrich scored and make all-star take the head again. Massimiliano Allegri has to substitute Pepe and Jovenko in the match. The 87th minutes, Paul Pogba scored in the box area and equalizes the score. The goal inspires Juventus attack more crazy in last 5 minutes. Finally, when the match proceed to 91 minutes, Simone Pepe, who was injured in last two years finish the final fit of the match. He shoots a powerful goal in the box, the score change to 3:2, Serie A champion finally won the match in final minute.

After the match, Allegri conclude: “All-star is a great team and let us played difficult in the match. But fortunately, we catch the opportunity, so we can win the game.”

 

Western Sydney Wanderers and AFC Champions league

-Josh Song

Unlike Sydney FC, which already have a long history and wins a lot of trophies in Australia soccer area, west Sydney Wanderers soccer club is definitely a young team in A-league. The first time they attended in A-league is two years ago. However, wanderers, the “rookie” team won the champion in their first inaugural season. Even though they lose the champion in 2014 A-League Grand Final, but they still crab the club direct qualification into the 2014 AFC Champions League group stage. This is also the first time that Wanderers’ name appears in AFC Champions league.

Wanderers’ first opponent in AFC Champions league group match is Ulsan Hyundai FC, the second place team in K-league. It seems the young wanderers have not already to adapt Asian intercontinental match. Korean soccer team then won the match by 3:1. Fortunately, the “rookie” from west Sydney found themselves in the second match, which against Guizhou Renhe- the champion of Chinese FA cup. Finally they won the game by1:0. The victory definitely inspired Wanderers, then in the third match, they beat Kawasaki Frontale, which come from J-league by the same score. Although wanderers lose the match in the next game, but they still won the first rank in Group H.

Wanderers’ first opponent in knockout stage is Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the champion of J-league. They played hard and indomitable in the game. Then, wanderers make it in to the quarter final by the advantage of the goal in the away match. In the next match, they will against the strongest opponent-Guangzhou Hengda, who was the champion in the last Champions league.

The most important match to wanderers is processing in pirtek stadium. Sydney time 20th, August, wanderers’ youngers challenge the defending champion from China in their stadium. Guangzhou FC made so many chances in the first half, unfortunately, their player have not catch anyone of them. Then the penalty comes in the second half. Antony Golec score in 60 minutes and make wanderers have one goal advantage. At the last 10 minutes in the game, with the referee gives two re cards to Guangzhou players, wanderers won the match at their home. In 27th, August, even though they lose the match by 1:2 at Tianhe stdium, Guangzhou, but with the advantage of the goal in away match, wanderer’s younger beat the defending champion. In next round, they will against Seoul FC, the champion from K-league. “I think the age of wanderers is coming.” Matt Law, one supporter of wanderers says. “We can make a miracle in the future.”

 

One day in white rabbit gallery

-Josh Song

White rabbit gallery is a Chinese modernism art museum in Sydney,most of the collections are from Chinese contemporary art. If you have time and interested in modernism arts, white rabbit gallery is a good choice to visit. By the way, after visit all the exhibition, have a drink in the tea house of this museum is another good choice.

This is a picture taken in Henan province, China, an old house in countryside.

In rural area of China, people always burn joss sticks to pray everything going well from now on.

This is an art work “afraid of water” by Lin Zhi, a Chinese artist. Mud was the milieu of Lin Zhi’s childhood, in a mud-brick village with muddy roads. As an artist he returned to mud, becoming a connoisseur of its colors and textures,and teaching himself to compress and publish it as it dried. This squat toilet resembles the ones in homes all over China. But the taps,sink, and soap all made entirely of dried mud.

This art work “wedding photo” all made by RMB cash.

A work”everything from nothing” made by Wang Lei who was come from Handan, Hebei province. In a meditation on this verse, Wang Lei crammed every face from a year’s worth of the oriental daily onto a scroll, and placed the datelines in a clear box. “A banker may think they are full of money, an actor might think they are full of costumes,” He said. In fact, apart from crumpled paper, “There is nothing inside.”

An ordinary room with one table, two chairs, three pictures, a clock and a closet. countryside, Shan Xi.

“Untitled gathering” made by Michael Lin from Japan. Michael Lin has helped make them an unofficial national emblem by scaling them up and taking them public. And he spreads a traditional peony print across 320 stools of the kind seen in outdoor cinemas all over Taiwan.

Old picture from old age, anyway, Mao leaves great impact to Chinese people.

In the end, all of working tools hang on the tree.

Cherry blossom festival at Auburn

-Josh Song

Cherry blossoms is a symbol flower from Japan, which also named Japanese Sakula bloom. In Australia, these flowers once a year for about two weeks, providing a beautiful spectacle, one which attracts many visitors to the gardens. Sakula bloom viewing parties are very significant events in Japan and having a picnic lunch under a sakula bloom tree is one of Japanese tradition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy the cherry blossoms at Japanese garden, Auburn. People can bring a picnic to Japanese garden, enjoy Japanese traditional performances at the same time.

It seems cherry blossom does not looks well in rain day.

The flower down to the ground with wind is another moment to attract visitors.

Flower with vivid color.

A visitor’s one day in Japanese garden, Auburn.

Mooncake-the traditional Chinese festival food in Sydney

-Josh Song

Mooncake is a traditional Chinese festival food. When the festival-middle autumn festival comes, mooncake will have a good market in China.

Mooncake’s birth is from a legend story in China. The festival is intricately linked to the legends of Chang E, the mythical Moon Goddess of Immortality. According to “Li-Ji”, an ancient Chinese book recording customs and ceremonies, the Chinese Emperor should offer sacrifices to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. The 15th day of the 8th lunar month is the day “Mid-Autumn Day”. The night on the 15th of the 8th lunar month is also called “Night of the Moon”. Because of its central role in the Mid-Autumn festival, mooncakes remained popular even in recent years.

Mooncakes have so many types of filling can be found:

lotus with single egg yolk mooncake mocha mooncake.

Sheng-Kee-Bakery-Pineapple-Mooncake.

Starbuck Berries cheese mooncake.

The taditional mooncake with sweat bean taste.

In recent years, accumulating numbers of Chinese people immigrant to Sydney. Not only they bring their family and their money, but also bring their festival and traditional from China. So that is the reason why mooncake could be sold well in market city(a super market near to Chinatown)

Happy middle autumn festival, for everyone!

 

Festival of the winds-Bondi beach

The festival of the winds is the most colorful spring festival in Sydney. So many kinds of kites can be found at Bondi beach in that day. There are also other entertainment programs such like free dance workshop, arts gallery in Bondi Pavilion. Kite flyers from everywhere of Australia will show you their skillful kite fly, enjoy the sunshine, surfing with the kite flying high is another charaterastic in that day.

A Chinese kite flyer and his Venny’s kite.

Different kinds of kite are flying in the sky.

A “bird” kite.

Crowd people and visit the festival.

How can attend to the most colorful festival?You can catch trains to Bondi Junction from Central Station, and then catch the 333, 380 or 381 bus from the Junction to the beach. These buses also run directly from Circular Quay.

What is multiculturalism in Australia?

-Blake Sharp-Wiggins

Multiculturalism is something we hear quite often in Australia. Often people say Australia is a multicultural country and it’s something to be proud of, but how we got to this point, as a country and where we stand now is even more interesting.

In 1901, when it came to who could be a part of our wide brown land, Australia followed the Immigration Restriction Act, which was famously referred to as the White Australia policy.

This policy was upheld for seventy-two years, from 1901 to 1973 when the government under Labor leader Gough Whitlam terminated the White Australia policy meaning that immigrants would no longer be allowed access based on their race or religion but instead upon their eligibility and merit.

In 1975 both leaders of the Liberal and Labor parties, Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser agreed upon a new act, which would be called the Racial Discrimination Act. This legislation made it illegal for any individual to discriminate against an individual or group based on their race.

Since then Australia’s views on multiculturalism have continued to evolve with some hiccups on it’s way such as former Prime Minister John Howard’s One Australia policy, which called for the reduction of Asian immigration to Australia. This obviously contradicted the principles of multiculturalism and the Racial Discrimination Act and brought about swift opposition from the Labor party as well as opposition from within the ranks of the Liberal party.

There was also the time of Pauline Hansen as an independent member of parliament.

Today the meaning of multiculturalism in Australia is one of understanding and acceptance of the many people that make this country what it is and every individual’s right to their cultural identity.

The Australian Department of Social Services (DSS) refers to multiculturalism as ‘a term which describes the cultural and ethnic diversity of contemporary Australia.’

But the government policy on multiculturalism is intended to play no part in its choice of who comes to Australia and to look after all people as individuals as well as a society. The DSS also highlights three parts of this policy:

• cultural identity: the right of all Australians, within carefully defined limits, to express and share their individual cultural heritage, including their language and religion;
• social justice: the right of all Australians to equality of treatment and opportunity, and the removal of barriers of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender or place of birth; and
• economic efficiency: the need to maintain, develop and utilize effectively the skills and talents of all Australians, regardless of background.

– Department of Social Services

In recent years speculation has been raised as to how multicultural Australia really is. Are we tolerating or embracing other cultures?

Within Sydney it could be argued that cultures have been split into certain areas. The Sutherland shire for example came under the spotlight during the Cronulla riots of 2005. Census reports from 2011 show the population of the area standing at 210,861, with 10% being born overseas or speaking another language other than English at home. The census also shows from the same year that 75% are Christian, 16% Non-religious and 3% were of Non-Christian. In comparison to the City of Bankstown which in 2011 had a population of 182,352 with 37% being born overseas and 56% being Christan and 28%, Non-Christian.

Let us know your thoughts. What do you think multiculturalism means in Sydney?

Has it got Soul power?

– Blake Sharp-Wiggins

American cuisine and Soul food venues have set up shop in Sydney and it looks like they’re here to stay. Here are 5 of the best American Soul food styled eateries in Sydney to get your mouth watering. And remember Soul food is all about the soul, not your waistline.

 

Miss Peaches

Found on the corner of King Street and Missendon Road, along one of the most diverse culinary streets in Sydney you’ll find Miss Peaches.

 

This colourful Southern styled bar a must for almost all of your soul food needs. The restaurant boasts the widest range of culinary delights from the US out of the selection and executes each meal in with fine quality.

 

Picks from the very affordable menu, with nothing over $16,include: Blackened Fish (favourite), Sliders, Gumbo, Cornbread, Sarsaparilla Glazed Fried Chicken and the Collard Greens made with Kale so you can feel slightly healthy about your indulgence, if you ignore that it’s fried in garlic butter.

 

In case you needed another reason to visit this bar they also have an impressive selection of whisky’s to choose from as well as a colourful cocktail list and an extensive beer menu showing off the small breweries of the United States. On weekends be sure to get in early and grab a booth, or enjoy the ambience of Newtown from the balcony, you might even happen upon one of the many bands that will put on a show.

 

The Soda Factory

The Soda Factory is one of those cool dimly lit bars that echoes the prohibition years of America. It even has a secret entrance, which may leave you on the street with a confused expression as you look from the maps app on your phone, to the entrance and back again. But if you refer to the picture above, it might give you a hint.

 

The menu has some true gems such as the Cheese Burger Spring Rolls (Yep, that’s a thing), Popcorn Shrimp, a good selection of Burgers, and Chicken and Waffles, tagged ‘The Harlem Heart Attack”

 

So make sure you bring your loose fitting pants if you’re looking to dine here.

 

But for the best ‘bang for your buck’ night at The Soda Factory, make sure you swing by on a Wednesday for ‘ Fat Bubba’s Chicken Wednesdays’ for $1 buffalo wings and a $10 bucket of some huge fried chicken.

 

The Rocks

The Rocks Brewing Co. is tucked away in Alexandria, hidden from the street view by the building complex that surrounds it. The menu is not heavily Americanised like the others but what makes this place worth coming to, aside from the beer which is all brewed on site, are the Buffalo Wings. After traversing several bars and restaurants across Sydney I can say that this bar has the best Buffalo wings in Sydney.

 

Manly Grill

Across the harbour is another restaurant that isn’t on the same level as places like Miss Peaches, but makes this list just for their Ribs. Well worth the visit, full rack of pork ribs, by the beach, heaven.

 

Jazz City Diner

Dubbed the “Godfather” of American cuisine by the Daily Telegraph, chef Dan McGuirt is an authority on Southern styled cooking in Sydney.

Jazz City is definitely the Kingpin when it comes to Sydney’s American eateries. The menu features a large selection of Southern influenced burgers as well as some specialties which just can’t be passed up such as the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings, the Kansas City Style Pork Ribs, and if you’re going to have it anywhere, have the Chicken and Waffles at this joint. If that’s not enough there is always the selection of pies for dessert. Make sure you leave room for the Coconut Cream Pie, the Banana Cream Pie and the Pecan Pie.

 

Sacred Music from the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra

-Blake Sharp-Wiggins

Ten musicians from all walks of life sat alongside the Parramatta River at the Riverside theatre to an audience as diverse as the players themselves. Richard Petkovic the Music Director welcomed the audience and paid respects to the Burrumattaagal People of the Dharug nation, the traditional custodians of the land.

The relaxed and playful vibes of the musicians radiated into the crowd as some of the orchestra members engaged in some light banter amongst themselves and to the audience, setting the scene for an enjoyable night.

The concert titled ‘Three sides of love and death’ began with a song called Marrngammathirri (to love), a song from Arnhem Land about the words of love by one of the musicians, Gambirra Illume. From there the group delved into the ideologies of absolute love and the inevitability of death, stopping from time to time to tell tales and talk about certain songs.

As each song came and went it felt as though the audience traversed across the globe from one country to another. At times the ambient waves of sound were overwhelming as the exceptional chorus of musicians evoked such diverse sounds across the theatre. Some of the orchestra members also performed traditional dances and acted out scenes in their native languages in order to give more gravity to the ideas behind their music.

One of the most moving moments of the evening was a short film of Uncle Max Harrison, an Aboriginal elder recounting the day he received the news that his son had committed suicide and how he immediately responded with love and understand in order to cope with the experience.

With the night at a close the musicians introduced themselves

Asim Gorashi, first violin and a Sufi musician from Sudan who is a world champion whistler

Bukhu Ganburged, from Mongolia who showcased the ancient art of throat singing and horse fiddle.

http://vimeo.com/40566638

Gambirra Illume, an Indigenous Australian vocalist

Mark Szeto, Chinese Australian on the double bass

Ngoc Tuan Hoang from Vietnam playing classical guitar and performed Vietnamese chanting

Seyed Salar Hosseini a young refugee from Iran who played the Violin

Shohrat Tursun from East Turkistan. A recognized master in one thousand year old song cycles using voice and playing the Dutar.

Victor Vales from Mexico playing the baroque harp

Yaw Derkyi from Ghana giving a spoken performance as well as playing percussion

Richard Petkovic the Music director, guitarist and harmonium player.

The concert is part of the Sacred Music Festival which is running throughout September. The Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra will be playing again on the 19^th of October in Prince Alfred Park, Parramatta.

Any room for American Sports in Sydney?

– Finlay Boyle

(Video: Peter Woods)

Looks strange, doesn’t it?

Although the non-sports fan may not quite understand, but yes that is the one and only  Sydney Cricket Ground being changed into a baseball pitch in March this year for a series of exhibition matches played between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. To say this looks a little out of the ordinary would be a gross understatement… However, in a city where we watch Rugby League, Rugby Union, AFL, Cricket and Soccer regularly, is there a possibility of a big sport from the US cracking into this market?

When I spoke to Alex Pellerano, National Commercial Manager at Baseball Australia, he said that this exhibition match earlier in the year had wet the appetite of Sydneysiders and would help to increase the steady growth that baseball has been seeing in Australia. He added, “This summer, we’re hoping the people that got a taste of it now are going to be keen to get it again and go see the Sydney Blue Sox or the Perth Heat or the Adelaide Bite.”

The hallowed turf of the SCG ready for a taste of America’s pastime (Photo: Fairfax)

Well, yes baseball has been putting up some pretty steady figures over the past few years. Last year the ABL (Australian Baseball League) experienced an increase in attendance of 22 percent and 20 percent in ticket sales revenue. But is this going to continue, and what about finding a stadium deal? All the ABL games are currently being played in smaller venues on the outer city areas.

To find out about whether or not Australians will take any American sports to their heart, I spoke to sports columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald, Peter Fitzsimons. When asked about the exhibition match he responded, “I was glad to attend it once, and there will certainly come a time when we’ll have an NFL game here too and I wouldn’t mind seeing that. Once.”

While not critical of American sport itself, he was very clear that all sport in Australia had to be Australian made as it were.

“If we’re going to grow baseball of NFL in this country, let’s have homegrown. I don’t want us to become an outer market for the American sporting franchises.”

Of course, we need only look at the NFL’s cooing of London as a city to develop an outer market, with exhibition matches held there during every regular NFL season.

Wembley Stadium welcoming the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers (Photo: Fairfax)

So if we’re not to be used as a consumer of American produced sporting leagues, it is going to be even harder to develop this ‘homegrown’ brand of baseball or say basketball to call our own. As Peter Fitzsimon says, “If you look at Sydney for example, we would be the most crowded football market in the world. You’ve got a city of five million people, with fans being divided up between rugby league, rugby union, AFL and soccer. It’s a very, very competitive market; there’s nowhere to go on it. ”

The SCG at near capacity for a Sydney Swans match (Photo: Fairfax)

So, are we even going to see any more American sport being played in Sydney’s large stadiums? Will we see another baseball mound at the SCG or even the MCG? Will we see ANZ stadium with gridiron painted onto the turf?

David Smith, a professor at the University of Sydney’s US studies centre believes that this may well be a possibility as “peoples attitudes to one sport stadiums are changing” and that people are becoming more accepting of the globalisation of sport. In that respect, perhaps an exhibition match could do quite well every few years, however the task of weaning Aussies away from Aussie sports seems near impossible.