Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Dame Nellie Melba

Nellie_Melba_by_Henry_Walter_Barnett

Born on this day in 1861, Dame Nellie Melba was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as an opera singer.

Dame Nellie was born Helen Porter Mitchell but later changed her name to Melba as a tribute to her beloved Melbourne.

Renowned chef, Auguste Escoffier, created the recipe for Peach Melba in her honour and later Melba toast, as a meal that the singer could eat when she suffered a prolonged illness.

Dame Nellie Melba died on 23 February, 1931 in St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. 

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour was started in Sydney in 2007 when 2 million people chose to turn off their lights to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on our planet. This year 82 countries and over 2000 cities are participating in the event.

We captured some of Sydney’s lights going out, including those on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge this evening. Most business in the city had turned off unnecessary lighting for the entire weekend – so many of the city lights were already out well before 8:15PM when we started filming.

As you will see there were still a lot of lights left on. Come on Sydney - let’s see if we can do even better next year.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Australia Honours Kim Beazley & Stephanie Rice

stephanie-rice-2 The 2009 Australia Day Honours List has included Stephanie Rice and Kim Beazley.

Stephanie Rice was awarded an OAM for her outstanding performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Kim Beazley was awarded an AC for his services to politics.

Kim-Beazley-2

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Prof. Mick Dodson is 2009 Australian of the Year

Mick-Dodson Well the pundits were right. Professor Mick Dodson has been named the 2009 Australian of the Year. Born on 10 April 1950, in Katherine, Northern Territory, he graduated from Melbourne’s Monash University in 1978.

A vigorous defender of human rights, Professor Dodson was Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. In 2002 he was appointed the first Indigenous Chair at the Australian National University.

We would like to congratulate Professor Dodson on being named Australian of the Year and for his efforts in pursing indigenous rights in this country and world-wide.

The other finalists for this Australia Day award were:

  • Glenn McGrath AM (Fundraiser)
  • Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Indigenous Singer/Songwriter)
  • Ivan Copley (Indigenous Community Worker)
  • Peter Cundall AM (Gardening Expert)
  • Dr Berhan Ahmed (African-Australian Community Leader)
  • Dr Penny Flett (Geriatrics Specialist)
  • Bronwyn Sheehan (Literacy Advocate)

What does Australia Day Commemorate?

It is very Australian to not actually know what Australia Day commemorates. Take our quick quiz below and see how you fare. To find out why we celebrate Australia Day on 26 January, you can read about the history of Australia Day here.

Get This - Survey Results - GlowDay.com