All you need to know about the Working Holiday Visa when coming to Australia:
- You must be under 31 to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa (WHV),
- Only certain countries are eligible (go to www.immi.gov.au) for more information.
- It is a one year visa and you can only work with one employer for up to 6 months (this means if you get hired with a school then you can only work with them for 6-months and then you would need to have the school sponsor you (457 Business Sponsorship visa) if they wanted to keep you longer.)
- To get a second WHV, you must work a minimum of 3 months in an agricultural setting in Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa. It will need to be signed off and you then can get a second one-year working holiday visa.
- The WHV is the only visa you can work as many jobs as you want, so take advantage of this (ex. you could be teaching in a school, tutoring on the side, working at a bar on the weekends, working at a surf shop over the school holidays).
- The WHV can be applied for online and doesn’t take too long to get approval.
- Keep your approval email somewhere safe, as you might need your visa details if you do end up applying for any other visas.
For any additional information, go to www.immi.gov.au. We also have other information on what to consider when moving to Australia and more specifically to Melbourne.
Tags: living in Australia, moving to australia, teaching in Australia, Working Holiday Visa, working in Australia
When working and travelling in Australia, one term that will likely be new to you, is superannuation. But it is important to understand what it is and what you are legally eligible for.
What is Superannuation?
It is similar to a pension plan but in Australia they call it Superannuation. When working here, you will notice that you don’t often receive benefits or medical extras from your employer when working full-time and this is the same whether you are Australian or from overseas. BUT, you get super!
If you get paid more than $450/month by your employer, then legally they must pay a minimum of 9% of your salary into a superannuation fund. This is ON TOP of your salary and not something that comes out of your salary. Your employer will deposit this into your superannuation account likely on a quarterly or biannually basis. This means, they help you save nearly 10% without even realizing it!
When can I receive my Superannuation?
The good news is, that for many of you, you will be working and travelling on the Working Holiday visa, which means that once you decide to leave the country permanently, you can get your superannuation back right away. They government will tax it but you usually get about 70% of it back. If however you stay in Australia and end up becoming a Permanent Resident, then you won’t be able to get your superannuation back until you retire!
For more information on what the government has to say about superannuation, click ATO superannuation.
Tags: living in Australia, moving to australia, Salary, superannuation, teaching salary, working in Australia
Many people who have travelled before, don’t really think too much about homesickness. However, travel and moving somewhere are two very different things.
Moving to Australia
It is not like backpacking anywhere because you are in fact ‘moving’ to a new country and have to settle in, start working, and meet new people. Since Australia is half way across the world from most countries in the Northern Hemisphere, it can take some adjustment. Unlike going to Europe, Australia is on a completely other day than most countries and you can’t exactly ‘pop’
3-month rule
It will take about 3 months to really get used to living somewhere new. It doesn’t matter how many times you have moved in the past, the golden rule is once you get through the first 3-months, things are much easier. During those months you will go through exciting times, homesickness, feeling like you don’t belong, and some of the time will just fly by. But after this, you feel more relaxed, you will have met some people to regularly hang out with, you will be used to your routine, and homesickness just gets easier.
So be patient with yourself when first moving overseas. You are not alone – everyone takes time to get used to things and just try and be as flexible and open minded as you can. Happy travelling to Australia!
Almost on a daily basis, I seem to have a conversation with an Australian about how cold it always is in Canada and how I can’t possibly find Melbourne very cold right now. So from my last conversation yesterday, to the blog post I did on Canadian winters here is a bit more information.
ATTENTION AUSTRALIA AND CANADA!
To all Aussies – in Canada we have 4 seasons, one of them being summer where it goes up to 30 degrees or higher for at least 2 months (just like Melbourne) and in fact the weather is wonderful from May to October. Yes we get the extreme opposite in winter, but it is a dry cold and Canadians use insulation, so you barely notice it indoors.
To all Canadians – it is not always hot in Australia! Right now as I type this it is about 5 degrees in Melbourne. So yes you need a jacket (preferrably a waterproof one), and a scarf! The cold starts in May and really does stop until October. Yes it isn’t into the minuses but it is a damp cold and most homes have little insulation so make sure to bundle up.
What’s the best tip we can give you for an Australian Winter?
Buy a hot water bottle! A simple addition to your bed while living in Australia but does make such a difference. If you ask around, many Aussies actually have electric blankets in the winter but they are costly and not worth the investment. A water bottle will take that chill away from the drafty windows, and cold walls. Definitely worth purchasing!
Now here’s a game that Canadian teachers in Australia could bring out to play with Australians and not only is the game fun, but they will learn so much about Canada! In fact, even as a Canadian, you are likely to learn something about your own country!
Check out their website as they even have more specific Canadian Monopoly games like Vancouveropoly! Or if you are interested in buying it now, click here:
It is difficult to watch the World Cup in Australia
Unfortunately since the World Cup is in South Africa, and the time difference to Australia basically stinks, we get all of the games at midnight and 4am. Doesn’t make for a very good work day after having an all nighter to watch the World Cup!
Also, as with any sporting event, when Australia is in it, coverage comes from nowhere and we get to watch the events. Take Wimbledon. Foxtel seems to have the rights this year, so for the normal Austarlian who doens’t have Foxtel we haven’t seen one second of Wimbledon but miraculously on Monday night, they show Wimbledon. Why? Because Hewitt is playing.
Same with the World Cup – we were able to watch the Australian matches over and over again. When England played Slovenia, they showed it once, at 4am and not again.
However the bonus of living in Australia is that you get every second of coverage of the Australian Open (even if they basically just show Australians playing), all the coverage of each and every Melbourne AFL team game, and all the cricket you could want in a lifetime!
For all those World Cup lovers, you’re not alone when up at 4am watching the games!
Tags: AFL, Foxtel, living in Australia, South Africa, sport in Australia, World Cup
Yes it does seem strange to say, Canada Day in Winter but for Canadian teachers in Australia, this is when we celebrate Canada Day. We won’t be having BBQ’s or sipping Caesar’s, instead we will be heading to an ice hockey game, going skatingor perhaps staying warm at the pub.
Does Australia really get a winter?
Well I think this is one of the greatest misconceptions around when talking about Australia because whoever you talk to, either from Australia or people who have travelled parts of Australia will say that Australia is always warm. In fact, this is not true!
Yes Queensland and Northern Territories in Australia are always warm with seasons around wet and dry rather than summer, winter, fall and spring. But ask any Canadian teacher in Melbourne, Australia, and they will tell you that when it’s winter here, it feels cold!
The south end of Australia (closest to Antartica) gets cold, with cities like Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne really feeling it. Yes they don’t get into the minus degrees but the difference is, they still don’t have insulation in houses so what is going on outside, is likely being felt inside.
We wrote an article about Winter in Melbourne last year describing some of the things you need to wear when here. But people continue to show up with no jacket, or scarf or hat (toque) and then end up buying it while they are here (which are more expensive and not as good quality as we have in Canada).
So listen up Canadians coming to Australia, if you plan on travelling in Australia during the months of June-September, this is winter and ifyou are visiting Melbourne, Hobart or Adelaide, then bring your winter clothes and a nice pair of warm slippers for indoors.
Just last week my heating broke here in Melbourne, Australia and when the electrician came to fix it, as usual, he said, ” well your from Canada so this must be nothing compared to your cold.” I promptly responsed, “Ya we get cold but not indoors!”. So for all you Australians still telling people it is always warm in this country, stop fibbing. Also if Austrlaia really wants to decrease their carbon useage, I would highly recommend each house invest in proper insulation and double glaze windows, so that when you have the heat on, it actually stays in the house rather than going through the walls and windows back outside, but also in the summer, the insulation and windows will actually keep your house cooler as well!
So Happy Canada Day to all those Canadian teachers in Australia at the moment! Put on your scarf and toque and go out and enjoy a winters day in Melbourne!
Tags: Canadian teachers, Life in Melbourne, living in Australia, moving to australia, Teaching, working in Australia
Quite some time ago we wrote an article about what teachers should wear in the different school systems (aka government, catholic, and independent schools) but as I continue to visit schools and see young teachers at work, I am surprised at what I see.
Young teachers wearing jeans to work
Each time a new teachers arrives in Australia, they ask me what is appropriate to wear and I always say it is better to be more formal and professional especially as they are young teachers and students are looking nice in their uniforms. Trying to keep a bit of separation between you and your students, is very important in terms of classroom management and respect.
However this year each time I visit my Canadian teachers in Australian schools, I find myself surprised to see many of them in jeans. My belief is that teaching is a profession and in order to be treated and respected like other professions, we should be dressing as such. Of course if you are teaching PE this is slightly different.
One of the reasons (or excuses) that my teachers give when I enquire, is that other teachers at the school are also wearing jeans. Again my belief is for those that are wearing jeans, they have likely been at the school for a very long time, are older and have earned the right to wear jeans. They are not young, new teachers at a school. Is it a Generation Y thing? Am I wrong? Doesn’t it look unprofessional to wear jeans when teaching students?
Tags: Australasia Travel, Canadian teachers, Generation Y, jeans, Life in Melbourne, Teaching, Victorian schools
Have you thought about the East Coast of Australia? If not, then consider Fraser Island, the Whitsundays or the Gold Coast.
Fraser Island – largest sand island in the world
Definitely worth a visit. You get to drive on the Sandy highway, you can go up in a plane to see whales and the sand drifts, swim in a fresh water lake, explore a rainforest. Get on a tour rather than drive yourself because you need a 4WD and if you get stuck, it costs at least $150 just to get the tow truck to turn on its engine!
Whitsundays
Sailing through the Whitsunday Islands is heaven. Make sure to visit Whitehaven beach (one of the top 10 beaches in the wold) where it can’t be built on! The sand squeaks it is so fine, and the white against the turquoise waters is stunning.
We recommend a 2 or 3 day Sailing boat trip around the islands. You sleep on board, there is a captain but you help with meals. A great way to meet people but make sure to bring gravol if you get sea sick!
Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast
If you are looking for a place to chill out on the beach and no do alot, then the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast is the place to be. YOu can explore many National parks and learn how to surf, but many people just relax, take in the suns rays, do a bit of shopping, and eat nice food.
Where else should you go in Australia? Uluru & Kakadu?, Tasmania? or how about overseas to New Zealandor Vietnam?
Tags: Australasia Travel, Canadian teachers, Fraser Island, Gold Coast, Teaching Holidays, Whitsundays
So we are getting close to the holidays – where should you go?
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Magical! That is how many describe the centre of Australia once visited. There isn’t a place like it, and if you see it the right way it will be a trip of a lifetime.
So what to see and what’s the best way to see the outback?
1) Sleep in a swag under the stairs – there is nothing like being beside the campfire looking up at the stars.
2) Walk around the Rock – they will ask if you want to climb the rock but we highly recommend that you don’t (please respect the Aboriginal Culture). Plus going around the rock is incredible.
3) Visit Kings Canyon – This is a must stop and one of the most beautiful places in Australia. The Ghost gum tree, the beehive geological formations, the hike to the very edge – there’s nothing like it!
4) Valley of the Winds – the hike through the Olgas is spectacular with views of Uluru.
5) Depending on how much time you have either go on a 3-day or 7-day tour. The 3-day Rock Tour is the best value for money and is highly recommended. If you have 7-days then start in Adelaide and go through Flinders Ranges, up to Coober Pedy (look for Opals!) and into Ayers Rock/Kings Canyon/The Olgas and we highly recomment Groovy Grape tours.
Kakadu National Park
Another great place to go and the best way is to definitely go on a tour. Adventure Tours is a good option. Make sure to go to Litchfield National Park, and Twin and Jim Jim Falls.
So what are you waiting for – book your tour today! If you have already been, tell us how you explored the area. Did we miss something?
Interesting in travelling somewhere else in Australia? Check out July Holiday Options and wait for our next article on Fraser Island, WhitSundays, and the Gold Coast.
Tags: Adventure tours, Australasia Travel, Ayers, Canadian teachers, Groovy Grape, Kakadu, National Park, Rock Tour, Teaching Holidays, Uluru
Where should you go for the July School Holidays?
In July it is Winter in Australia which actually means great things when it comes to travel. Not only as teachers do you have 2 weeks off at the beginning of July, but you have so many places to choose from to visit.
In this series of blogs we will discuss a number of good places to visit in July. If you are interested in any of the places or tours, then contact us and we can help you arrange a memorable trip!
Trips in Australia
1) Uluru (Ayers Rock)
2) Fraser Island
3) Whitsundays
4) Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast
5) Kakadu National Park
Watch here for details on each of the July holiday trips in Australia.
Tags: Australasia Travel, Fraser Island, Gold Coast, July teaching holidays, Kakadu, school holidays, teaching in Australia, Uluru, Whitsundays
So many of our teachers arrive in Australia and instantly miss their pets at home. Well have you ever thought about fostering a pet while you are here?
Responsibilities of Foster Parents
- Take care of kitten/cat or puppy/dog
- Provide food and make sure to feed your pet
- Give them lots of love!
- If they get sick, you will need to drive them to the vet
- Drop them off when the pound/organization has someone to adopt them or drop them off at the vets to get desexed.
What you are not responsible for?
- Vet bills (if your pet gets sick, you need to take them to the vet but you don’t pay anything)
- Litter box will be provided
- You do not need to find a home for them (although if you know someone who is looking for a pet, it is a great idea to suggest them to the organization as ultimately we want all the pets to be adopted).
You can stare at kittens playing together for hours. Doorways fascinate them. Moths terrify them. They hunt balled paper and ribbons. Any sort of jingling or loose thread is worth attacking, you know, just to see.
One of our kittens was so intrigued with a bit of leftover coke in the bottle, I thought I’d share an episode from “Kitty TV” with you, and you can see why fostering kittens could be for you!
If you are interested, contact your local pound or you can also go to Save-a-Dog Scheme (and they have kittens/cats/dogs/puppies to foster).
Tags: Australasia Travel, foster parents, fostering, fostering pets, kittens, pets
When people think about what to drink when they travel over to Australia, most suggest wine especially as Australia has some of the best wines in the world! However Australia also has a fantastic beer culture with a number of local breweries across Australia.
Some of my favourite local Brews in Australia:
James Boags – found in Tasmania (if you haven’t gone check out this post on where to go and also do the Boags tour for beer/cheese tastings!)- Little Creatures
- Beez Nees
- Coldstream – just outside the Yarra Valley so after you have hit some wineries, check out their Summer Ale!
- Bluetongue – found in Western Australia (if you go, do the tasting paddle of all their brews!)
- James Squire (the pub is in Melbourne where we watched the Canadian Mens Olympic Hockey Final!)
- Redback – also found in Western Australia (and did you know that it is also a spider in Australia!)
What are your favourite beers in Australia? Tell us as we know we have not named them all!
Ofcourse we could mention Victoria Bitter, Carlton, Tooheys, XXXX, Crown Lager – but I wouldn’t call them local brews with character!
Do you want to learn more about great wineries in Australia? Take a look at Yarra Valley, and Rutherglen.
Is it true that everything in Australia is more expensive?
When teachers from Canada, and USA arrive in Melbourne, Australia one of the first things they say is that they can’t believe how expensive things are. But is this just a bit of culture shock?; or have they not taken into account the exchange rate difference?; or perhaps it is true!
So what is noticeably more expensive in Australia?
1) Rent – it doesn’t matter how many times it is explained to our teachers that their is a rental shortage in Melbourne, Australia so rent is high, they all wait til they arrive and see for themselves how expenisve it really is!
2) Coffee/Muffins – if you are used to Tim Horton’s in Canada then you will be shocked to find out that one muffin in Australia can cost you $4 and a coffee is about the same! No more 2 dollar breakfasts!
3) Soft drinks/pop/soda – Whatever you call it in your country things like Coca-cola or Nestea Ice Tea is expensive!
4) White Goods – Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Dishwashers. The worst part is that if you rent an unfurnished place, more often than not, this will not include a fridge or washing machine so get ready to search for the deals.
5) Beer – a 6-pack can cost $17-$20 so look for bargains at Dan Murphys for a case (sometimes for $40!)
What else do you find expensive in Australia? Or more importantly, what isn’t expensive in Australia?
If you are thinking about moving to Australia or teaching in Melbourne, Australia then consider reading our tips for Moving to Melbourne, Australia
How is save so that you can afford to live and travel throughout Australia?
3 things to NOT like about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules?
- What happens with the players off the field! It is something a struggle with each time I watch a game knowing the number of players who have had drinking or drug issues; rape charges & uncharged; are rude in public. As key role models for kids in Australia, you would think that charges would be strict-but unfortunately they aren’t and the number of AFL players playing who are not actually good role models would astound you if we actually knew the stats!
- The drunken behaviour of AFL fans. It’s nice to go to a live game but more often than not, you find yourself around people who are either already drunk or closing in on it, or if you are really lucky you will be in the middle of a fight (about what I might ask – hmm the footy game?!)
- If you are not a big fan of sports, or perhaps have a number of different interests, this can be quite hard during footy season. If people aren’t trying to talk to about it, then just pick up the papers to see all the results/news/gossip splattered all over the papers (regardless if there was actually a more important sporting event taking place) or try and watch anything but footy on TV during the season!
What do I like about Footy?
You will see from my previous post that I had 5 points in the ‘Like’ category which can lead you to believe that I like footy more than I dislike footy which is true. I love going to watch, it’s exciting, I like dressing up, and it’s cheap. I just do my best to not think about the rest! How about you?
Not sure what Footy is? Click here for more
5 things to love about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules?
- If you like sports & athletics, this is the sport for you! A combination of rugby, soccer, basketball, football all put together with a heck of a lot of running (cricket oval size field).
- Fast pace, few interruptions – the game flows withonly stoppage if someone is hurt or between 30 minute quarters. Referees are around and you hear the whistle a lot but it doesn’t really actually stop the flow of the game at all (unlike Netball!)
- High scoring games – since there are few interruptions then it allows for the score to get pretty high which keeps things eventful and you never know who will win!
The fans – if you have not been to a footy game in Melbourne before, then I cannot suggest anything more important to do when you are here (between April – September). The first thing that people will ask you is who do you barrack for? Which means who is your footy team? Then when you go to a game, you better be wearing team colours or people will wonder why you are there! The pride of fans is insane with at least 40,000 people showing up at every game (an thats with at least 4 games in Melbourne every weekend!)- It’s cheap to go watch – yes live sport for a fraction of the price compared to North American Sports. For only $20 you can get a general admission ticket at Etihad Stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground and see the game perfectly! Plus you will get a few characters up in the general admission seats which is always a bit of fun!
Not sure what Footy is? Click here for more details.
Blog Series – Post 1
Before we can discuss the likes and dislikes of Australian Rules Football, its best to explain a little bit about what it is for new readers not from Australia.
A little bit about Australian Rules Football
Also called: Aussie Rules, AFL, footy
Its a sport played in Australia that originated in Melbourne. Now the league consists of 2 teams in Western Australia, 2 teams in South Australia, 1 team in Sydney, 1 team in Brisbane and the rest in Melbourne. I would have to say that it is a sport that is hard to explain until one goes to see it but since not everyone will be lucky enough to go to a live game, here goes: its a mixture of soccer, rugby, basketball, football (american that it is) all put together to make a new game! And it is played on an oval (aka a cricket pitch) so this means the players have to be super fit but alos their are 18 players on each side on the field at a time!
The Game of Aussie Rules Football (AFL)
The focus of the game is to kick goals through two posts that are found at each end, which gives the team 6 points; if they miss and go through the other shorter post (not in the centre), they get 1 point.
You can’t just run with the ball, the ball either has to touch the ground with the persons hand, or bounced (which is no easy feat since the ball is oblong), or handballed, or the player can kick the ball to another player. If the player catches it and the kick was 15 meters long, then the player with the ball gets a small period of time and space from the defender to decide wither to kick to someone or handball or run with it.
What’s a handball?
Good question-Basically like an underhand serve in volleyball except the ball is oblong and the goal is to puch the ball towards a player to catch it.
It’s a very fast paced game and is played for 30 minute quarters (so 2 hours of sport!) with no timeouts allowed except between quarters.
Ok so that’s the gist of footy, next we will talk about some of the likes or pros of the game and then the dislikes or cons of hte sport.
Until next time!
Oh and if you like this post, you are likely interested in what else goes on in Melbourne – since it is the sporting capital of the world!
It’s Term 1 holidays but once Easter weekend finishes, teachers across Victoria will soon be worrying about Term 2 starting.
So how can we make Term 2 more manageable especially with winter setting in Melbourne, and mornings getting dark and the sun going down before we even leave school.
How about an extra sleep-in?
But I am sure you were thinking, how is that possible if I still have to get to work at the regular time, I still have to shower, I still have to eat breakfast and get organized.
How about a fast breakie that will save you more time in the morning but also make you feel energized?!
As you all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day (especially for teachers), so don’t be skipping it!
Here are some ideas:
Avocado, Tomato, Salt/Pepper on Toast
Peanut Butter & Banana on Toast
Fresh local jam (perhaps from your latest trip to Tasmania at Kate’s Berry Farm!) and Toast
Muesli (Granola), fresh fruit (already cut up in tupperware so ready to go), and yogurt
Instant Oatmeal and brown sugar with a splash of milk
Bran Cereal with fresh fruit.
Not sure where to buy all of these items:
Melbourne Groceries: Where to Shop
Living with Aussies: Eating with Australians – Etiquette
- Laptops are toys and used for games.
- They become just a replacement to writing with pen and paper and are not used in a ‘fun’ way in the classroom.
- Blogwork is untraditional and paper-free.
- Unless you are an internet surfer, you don’t quite understand how the Internet works.
- Laptops are hard to carry around (although now with the wheelie backpacks, this should be less of a complaint).
- Half the time the laptop won’t work and then time is spent mainly on trying to fix them rather than using them (or the student has to pair up and watch another student have all the fun)
- Teacher doesn’t really like them and this flows into the students attitudes.
Should laptops be used in schools? Is it possible to have technology being used to enhance student learning? Do you know ways that have worked for you that you would like to share with other teachers interested in intergrating laptops in the classroom?
Are laptops even being used in Australian classrooms or is it still the traditional computer classroom?
You might also be interested in:
Collaborate with your students (and exercise some control) on laptops
January – New Year’s Firework Celebration; Australian Open; Midsumma Festival; Melbourne Zoo Twilights;
February – St.Kilda Festival; NAB AFL begins;
March – Australian Grand Prix; Melbourne Queer Film Festival; Moomba Festival; Melbourne Food & Wine Festival;
April – Australian Rules Football season begins; Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Bells Beach Surfing Championships; School holidays – if you’re in a contract, you’ll have two paid weeks of travel!
May – Footy!
June – School holidays – if you’re in a contract, you’ll have two paid weeks of travel!
July – Footy!
August – Melbourne Writer’s Festival; Melbourne International Film Festival;
September – Grand Final AFL; School holidays – if you’re in a contract, you’ll have two paid weeks of travel!
October – International Arts Festival; Spring Carnival Racing
November – Spring Carnival Racing begins;
December – Crown Casino Christmas Celebrations; Moonlight Cinema in Royal Botanical Gardens; Rooftop Cinema in the City; Victoria Night Markets;
Do you know of any other festivals/events/activities in Melbourne, Australia that we may have missed? Let us know!
You might also find our 10 things you need to know before you move to Melbourne interesting and helpful.
Tags: AFL, Australasia Travel, Australian Open, Festivals, Life in Melbourne, Moonlight Cinema
Well it was a sad day to see the flame go out in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but for some, they are glad not to have to watch anymore of Channel Nine’s Winter Olympic Coverage.
As you can see by my infrequency of posts, that I went through major Olympic Withdrawal. I am now coming out of it and wondering what other people would be interested in reading about?
Tiger Woods comeback? Commonwealth Games? New places to Explore in Australia? Teaching Overseas?
And don’t forget the ParaOlympic Winters Games is on so make sure to support it as well. Unfortunately in Australia they are showing it for 30 minutes each night! But it’s not with Channel Nine!
It was a historical day for Canada at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games when we won 14 Gold medals – the most gold medals won by any nation in history!
At the beginning of the games all the media could talk about was, “when was Canada to get a gold medal on home soil?” Well that didn’t last long and we just kept collecting them!
Our final gold couldn’t have been earned in a better fashion then in overtime, against the United States, in Canada, on the last day of the Olympic Games in Canada! Yes I was one of the 33 million Canadians (except on the other side of the world in Australia) watching this epic event.
But it wasn’t that easy to watch this moment on fold. As mentioned in my last post about Channel Nine nearly getting it right, they knew it would be the most watched sporting event, and yet decided not to show it until 2 hours into the game. So yes, I did venture over to the James Squire Pub in Melbourne, Australia and watched it LIVE at 7:15am. I really thought there would be very few there as it was a Monday morning where people usually have to work (unless you own your own business and can decide to take the morning off), but when I arrived, it was packed with at least 100 Canadians (and a lonely American couple) to watch the game. It was electrifying and we could have almost been in Canada (except that it was hot and sunny out, the beer tasted wierd as it was 8am in the morning, and it was a week day!)
Congratulations Canada for hosting a fantastic Winter Olympic Games, and congratulations to all the athletes from all over the world. You are an inspiration!
After all the bad commentating and press, Channel Nine changed their tactics for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. They gave Eddie McGuire an afternoon roll, Mick Malloy was hardly on at all, and the evening show was taken over by the female and male commentators that were doing the afternoon show. Well done Channel Nine in Australia.
Then just today, they played all the live events and let the tv audience actually see the sport at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. I nearly made the mistake to say that Channel Nine had finally figured it out and were listening to their audience.
Sadly, as they finished their coverage for the day, after announcing that the final event – the Men’s Olympic Hockey game (Canada vs. USA) – would be the most watched sporting event in history – they continued to say coverage would start on Channel Nine at 9am. After careful calculation, I realized that although the rest of the world would be watching this historical tv sporting event, Australia would be watching it two hours after it started! How does a TV station (Channel Nine) that I assume was hoping to make a lot of money from the coverage of the Olympic Games, mess up so much that they will be one of the only nations NOT showing the Olympic Men’s Hockey Final Live.
What does this mean for all of us viewers? Well if you don’t have Foxtel, then you either have to watch it two hours later with the rest of the world already knowing what happened, or get up at 7am and go to your local pub to watch it! That’s where I will have to be to share this historical tv moment unfold at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
It was a slow start but Canada has really taken our Olympic dreams to a new level. With 12 Golds and the possibility of 2 more, we lead the gold medal tally!
Not only are we leading the Golds, but we have just tied the number of medals we have ever won in any Olympic Games. With 24, and two to come, we will surpass our all-time record! We are proud of our Olympic athletes in Vancouver!
It was nice to see the media responding to the complaints made on Channel Nine’s coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. In our last post, we discussed the Australian coverage of the Winter Olympics. Unfortunately with the homophobic comments, and the patronizing behaviour of Eddie McGuire and Mick Malloy, there was very little reason to want to watch the Olympics from Australia.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a female hosting the night time coverage yesterday – “Vancouver Gold” and it was such a nice change. She did a wonderful job and they even showed a variety of sports. Eddie even managed an afternoon interview with “The Great One – Wayne Gretsky” without messing it up!
Well done to Channel Nine for responding to the viewers complaints. I just hope to see the day time crew back on the night time show tonight to watch the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games!
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