Latest news with #PharLap
Sydney Morning Herald
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
I couldn't imagine living in such an eerie area. But my suburb is difficult to leave
Imagine, if you will, a hand of God, in addition to assisting Maradona to win the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, coming down from heaven and scooping up a swathe of humanity from the Asian subcontinent in a north-westerly direction over Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and then a final quick dip in far-Western Europe. Picture that hand scattering these people in one of the fastest-growing residential growth corridors in Australia and you will perhaps grasp something of what Craigieburn is about: this enigmatic suburb you either take a quick rubberneck glance at on your way to Canberra or Sydney, or whose existence you maybe consider as you board a train upon the Craigieburn line and wonder what poor souls have to ride this route all the way to the end. Previously a land of sweeping plains, farms, and sheep runs, Craigieburn has evolved over the decades to become the suburban love child of Metricon and Lendlease. It embodies aspiration. The median house price is $650,000, and is where anyone and everyone can get their first taste of the great Australian dream. There is a distinct old and new Craigieburn: the former features classic brick-veneer homely residences, while the latter includes an impressive array of rendered and modernist mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Toorak. In 2010, I was living in Moonee Ponds and serving as an honorary chaplain to the Coburg Tigers VFL Club. Highgate Reserve in the less-developed northern region of Craigieburn, with its 'MCG-sized oval' was a second home ground to the Tigers. The team travelled up here to play Gold Coast during that quasi-internship season they spent in the VFL. The ground was packed, primarily as NRL code-hopper Karmichael Hunt was pulling on the boots for the first time. Gold Coast were thrashed, and Coburg took in the gate earnings that day, so everyone was happy. I mention this anecdote, as a central arterial road, Grand Boulevard, literally came to a gravelly stop next to the oval; there were no shops, few homes, no roundabouts, and I simply couldn't imagine living in such an eerie place. Fast forward to 2014, however, when I moved up here to take up a post at the local Anglican school for almost a decade: a young, low-fee, rapidly expanding educational centre that now boasts three connected campuses. The Melbourne Anglican Diocese purchased a historic sea-captain's homestead and acreage that featured in the 1983 film Phar Lap with Tom Burlinson. Incidentally, my office was also originally located in the archaic coach house where the Toecutter gang tried to abduct Mel Gibson's son in the first Mad Max film, but that is another story ... We moved to a newer housing area called Highlands, which features a very agreeable man-made lake and a Saturday morning Parkrun around it. I decided that I probably lived in one of Australia's most multicultural streets. In order, my neighbours were: Pakistani Muslims, Iraqi Christians, Turkish Alevis, Turkish Sunnis, Afghani Hazaras, Chaldean Catholics, Indian Sikhs, Punjabis and Hmongs, with a smattering of Anglos, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders in the multiethnic mix. Craigieburn is part of the gargantuan 3064 postcode. Its population of over 65,000 in 2021 made it Australia's second-largest suburb, after Point Cook. We are so big, in fact, that in 2020, we were declared special enough to have our own tailored lockdown. These were indeed dark days for many of the multi-generational abodes in the area, and the cutely named exercise of 'remote learning' was somewhat strained in an area where two-thirds of residents speak a language other than English at home.
The Age
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
I couldn't imagine living in such an eerie area. But my suburb is difficult to leave
Imagine, if you will, a hand of God, in addition to assisting Maradona to win the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, coming down from heaven and scooping up a swathe of humanity from the Asian subcontinent in a north-westerly direction over Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and then a final quick dip in far-Western Europe. Picture that hand scattering these people in one of the fastest-growing residential growth corridors in Australia and you will perhaps grasp something of what Craigieburn is about: this enigmatic suburb you either take a quick rubberneck glance at on your way to Canberra or Sydney, or whose existence you maybe consider as you board a train upon the Craigieburn line and wonder what poor souls have to ride this route all the way to the end. Previously a land of sweeping plains, farms, and sheep runs, Craigieburn has evolved over the decades to become the suburban love child of Metricon and Lendlease. It embodies aspiration. The median house price is $650,000, and is where anyone and everyone can get their first taste of the great Australian dream. There is a distinct old and new Craigieburn: the former features classic brick-veneer homely residences, while the latter includes an impressive array of rendered and modernist mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Toorak. In 2010, I was living in Moonee Ponds and serving as an honorary chaplain to the Coburg Tigers VFL Club. Highgate Reserve in the less-developed northern region of Craigieburn, with its 'MCG-sized oval' was a second home ground to the Tigers. The team travelled up here to play Gold Coast during that quasi-internship season they spent in the VFL. The ground was packed, primarily as NRL code-hopper Karmichael Hunt was pulling on the boots for the first time. Gold Coast were thrashed, and Coburg took in the gate earnings that day, so everyone was happy. I mention this anecdote, as a central arterial road, Grand Boulevard, literally came to a gravelly stop next to the oval; there were no shops, few homes, no roundabouts, and I simply couldn't imagine living in such an eerie place. Fast forward to 2014, however, when I moved up here to take up a post at the local Anglican school for almost a decade: a young, low-fee, rapidly expanding educational centre that now boasts three connected campuses. The Melbourne Anglican Diocese purchased a historic sea-captain's homestead and acreage that featured in the 1983 film Phar Lap with Tom Burlinson. Incidentally, my office was also originally located in the archaic coach house where the Toecutter gang tried to abduct Mel Gibson's son in the first Mad Max film, but that is another story ... We moved to a newer housing area called Highlands, which features a very agreeable man-made lake and a Saturday morning Parkrun around it. I decided that I probably lived in one of Australia's most multicultural streets. In order, my neighbours were: Pakistani Muslims, Iraqi Christians, Turkish Alevis, Turkish Sunnis, Afghani Hazaras, Chaldean Catholics, Indian Sikhs, Punjabis and Hmongs, with a smattering of Anglos, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders in the multiethnic mix. Craigieburn is part of the gargantuan 3064 postcode. Its population of over 65,000 in 2021 made it Australia's second-largest suburb, after Point Cook. We are so big, in fact, that in 2020, we were declared special enough to have our own tailored lockdown. These were indeed dark days for many of the multi-generational abodes in the area, and the cutely named exercise of 'remote learning' was somewhat strained in an area where two-thirds of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Otago Daily Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Govt says controversial campaign 'a winner'
Image: supplied The government is calling the controversial 'Everyone Must Go' campaign a winner for attracting Australian tourists to New Zealand shores. The campaign was ridiculed when it was launched. Media in the United States and United Kingdom called it tone-deaf, while opposition MPs said it made New Zealand sound like a clearance-sale item. But Tourism New Zealand stats show it delivered 7981 additional visitors between March and May. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said that was more than 1000 additional visitors than expected. She described the campaign as a winner, aimed at grabbing people's attention - and it did. "We knew Aussies would recognise it as a great opportunity. Just like they grabbed Phar Lap and pavlova, it's proved the same story with 'Everyone Must Go'." The campaign targeted a $17 million spend boost, and the minister said it generated an estimated $22 million in incremental visitor spend. The industry had backed the campaign, with 450 operators offering more than 800 deals to entice travellers, she said. "A key part of this campaign's success were the deals the tourism industry came to the party with. This team approach showed we can deliver great results for the sector when government and industry are joined up and working towards the same goals." The campaign received an initial $500,000 budget from the International Visitor Levy, but received an additional $300,000 boost. Of the additional visitors, 6804 of them could be directly attributed to bookings made via the campaign, with the remaining 1177 linked to the indirect conversion activity. The total number of Aussie arrivals in autumn increased by more than 24,000 - hitting 331,571 this year. "Every one of those Australian visitors who ate at cafes and restaurants, visited tourist attractions and shopped in our towns and cities has helped the New Zealand tourism sector grow, and boosted the Kiwi economy in the process," Upston said.
Scoop
23-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Take That! Tourism Campaign A Hit With Aussies
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality The 'Everyone Must Go' campaign encouraging Australians to pick New Zealand for their next holiday has hit its results out of the park, bringing in thousands of visitors in a boost for regional economies and tourism operators. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says 'Everyone Must Go' was initially targeted at 6,750 additional arrivals over the autumn but ended up significantly exceeding expectations. ''Everyone Must Go' has been a winner,'' Louise Upston says. 'Tourism NZ stats released to me show it delivering an additional 7,981 visitors to smash its initial forecasts. It also attracted significant attention on both sides of the Tasman, and got Kiwis and Aussies talking about New Zealand as a destination. 'Tourism is a key part of our plan to grow the economy, create jobs, lift wages and help Kiwis get ahead. 'Everyone Must Go' is a great example of the sector and Government working together to achieve these goals. 'We knew Aussies would recognise it as a great opportunity. Just like they grabbed Phar Lap and pavlova, it's proved the same story with 'Everyone Must Go.' 'A key part of this campaign's success were the deals the tourism industry came to the party with. This team approach showed we can deliver great results for the sector when Government and industry are joined up and working towards the same goals.' More than 800 deals from 450 operators across accommodation, transport and experiences were available during the campaign. The initial $500,000 campaign spend delivered a solid return on investment, leading to an additional $300,000 to give the campaign a further boost. 'This campaign was the first Tourism Boost initiative, and these positive results show that with the right investment in the right markets we will drive economic growth. 'Every one of those Australian visitors who ate at cafes and restaurants, visited tourist attractions and shopped in our towns and cities has helped the New Zealand tourism sector grow, and boosted the Kiwi economy in the process,' Louise Upston says. Notes: The Autumn campaign targeted an additional 6,750 visitors (above baseline growth) from Australia between March and May and delivered an additional 7,981 arrivals over the period. 6,804 arrivals were directly attributable to bookings made via the campaign and an additional 1,177 arrivals were from the indirect halo effect of conversion activity in market over and above the campaign. The additional 7,981 visitors generated an estimated $22M in incremental visitor spend (29 per cent ahead of the campaign target of $17M). Across Autumn 2025, the total number of visitor arrivals from Australia increased by more than 24,000 – up from 307,338 last year to 331,571 this year. These additional 24,233 visitors generated an estimated $67M in visitor spend. The campaign had support from the industry including: strong collaboration with airlines, hotels, travel agencies and online travel platforms; 450 tourism operators providing 800 deals on TNZ's
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Racing Confidential: Controversy behind Winx, Black Caviar ‘Legend' gong for Australian Racing Hall of Fame
The decision to elevate mighty mares Black Caviar and Winx to 'Legend' status in the Hall of Fame didn't meet with universal approval. There was some criticism of both champions being given the rare honour at the same time and it also prompted debate why other greats like Tulloch, Kingston Town and Bernborough haven't been given a similar acknowledgment. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Hall of Fame selection committee (of which this writer is a member) had a robust debate about the issue before it was determined Black Caviar and Winx should be elevated to 'Legend' in the Hall of Fame, and there was no reason why both could not be given the honour at the same time. Some of the criticism has been that the judges were swayed by a 'recency bias' but alternatively there is also a widespread acceptance that both Black Caviar and Winx richly deserve 'Legend' status. They join Phar Lap, Carbine and Makybe Diva as the only horses to be given the honour. This decision has certainly created some controversy but also an unexpected bonus – it has brought more attention and media coverage than usual to the Hall of Fame-Horse of the Year Awards ceremony in Brisbane on August 31. BLACK CAVIAR, WINX ELEVATED TO LEGEND STATUS TOGETHER The two mighty mares will later this year join Carbine, Phar Lap and Makybe Diva as the only horses afforded Legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 23, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Joseph hoists flag for midweek Highways Barbara Joseph, who is an institution in NSW racing, contacted Racing Confidential in support of an item which appeared in this column last week calling for TAB Highways to be introduced to bolster Sydney midweek meetings. 'I'm in favour of midweek Highways,'' Joseph said. 'But they could also be a little different and made for horses with a benchmark rating of around 80. 'The country trainers would definitely support these races like they do with the Highways every Saturday. 'City trainers are coming to win our country Cups more often these days and I understand that so why not give the country trainers more opportunity to race for midweek prizemoney in the city?'' Joseph is a voice of reason in racing and she has earned the respect of her peers from a celebrated training career that spans 50 years and includes nearly 2000 winners including her famous 1989 Doncaster Handicap triumph with Merimbula Bay. â– â– â– â– â– A midweek meeting to remember for form analysts That's a big win at Randwick to Raging Force, who makes it two wins in a row! ðŸ'° @TommyBerry21 @SnowdenRacing1 @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025 For a late season, winter race meeting, the Kensington midweeker should prove a very strong form reference. Each of the seven winners were dominant in their own way, none more so than the brilliant Peter Snowden-trained two-year-old Raging Force, who ran his rivals ragged to win by a big margin in fast time despite being eased down in the last 100m. ☃ï¸� Frosty Girl makes it two wins from two starts with a fantastic win at Randwick! @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025 Stardeel and Wollzeile also won with authority while Frosty Girl maintained her unbeaten record to finish fast and score convincingly. Axius was impressive first-up and looks to have a future, Hasty Honey can win again while Getafix carried a big weight and monstered his rivals to win by nearly six lengths. Getafix gets a dominant win in the last at Randwick - and it's an all-grey trifecta! 🩶 A double to @mcacajamez today ðŸ'° @JohnOSheaRacing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Champion trainer retires due to illness Sad news out of America with legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas forced into retirement due to ill health. Lukas, 89, has decided against undergoing an aggressive treatment plan in hospital to return home to his family. Lukas, who was inducted into the US Hall of Fame in 1999, trained four Kentucky Derby winners among his 15 Triple Crown triumphs, and also prepared 20 winners at the Breeders Cup. His best horses include Lady's Secret, Thunder Gulch, Charismatic, Winning Colours and Tabasco Cat.
