Dame Nellie Melba

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. 

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.

Australia Honours Kim Beazley & Stephanie Rice

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.

Prof. Mick Dodson is 2009 Australian of the Year

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

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Boxing Day in Australia marks the start of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The race which has been run for 64 years, is considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious and challenging yachting events.

Starting in Sydney Harbour, the course runs for 628 nautical miles along the east coast of Australia, across Bass Strait and up Tasmania’s Derwent River to the finish line. Not without its dangers, many Australians still remember the terrible storms that battered the 1998 race fleet, sinking five boats and claiming six lives.

This year, the yacht SWD (Sailors with disABILITIES) will line up again to tackle the race. The crew of seven have a variety of disabilities but this did not stop them winning their race division last year. Good luck SWD. We hope you manage to equal (if not better) your achievement last year.

Merry Christmas

From the entire team here at fiveoclockwave.com, we would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday.

We would also like to share with you a particularly Australian Christmas song. In 1961 Rolf Harris released Six White Boomers which we thought you might enjoying listening to on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas