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“In the Women’s Draw, look out for a resurgent Elena Rybakina to add the Australian Open to her Wimbledon title of 2022. Guileful and graceful, Rybakina has the temperament and game to master Melbourne.” 10 th  December 2025                                              ************************   Spoiler alert- this post will be more tennis than politics; however, given the near four month hiatus until the start of the French Open, there will be plenty of time to specu

As much as we live in a globalised world in terms of trade, economics and, increasingly culture- look at the polyglot collection of films nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars-, we still are a hemispheric world dramatically divided by nature. In Australia, the Australian Open is being played on days of unbearable heat . Last Saturday, the tournament’s heat policy was implemented as the surface temperature on centre court reached 65 degrees Celsius. The ballboys and

Damn it all! Why is Newton’s third law always right? Barely a month after the Bondi massacre, Australia is witnessing a dispiriting inability to either politically or socially achieve an effective response to our worst ever terrorist attack. As a result of the Prime Minister’s initial anaemic reaction to the massacre, we have now had the Newtonian equal and opposite reaction , if not an overreaction. Suddenly, a Royal Commission is called, a national day of mourning is declar

In 1993, when tickets were somewhat affordable for the citizenry, I attended the Men’s Singles final at the Australian Open between Jim Courier and Stefan Edberg. Players and spectators took to Centre Court on a day when the temperature soared to 43 degrees in the shade. Today, the tournament’s heat policy would have seen the final played under a closed roof.  Even before Tik Tok, American broadcasters showed images of eggs being fried on the baking court. It was no surprise

Here’s the problem. No true democrat likes to see countries ravaged by the acts of dictators. Human rights and economies are inevitably destroyed. Will Zimbabwe ever truly recover after the excesses of Mugabe? Have either Russia or Germany emerged from the legacies of Stalin and Hitler? We know all too well what has been required to remove the world’s most evil leaders from countries.  In the shadows of World War 2, and even further since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the

With the flick of his wrist, John McEnroe, who it is ridiculous to think will be 67 in February, would often execute a sublime half-volley, when the ball seemed past him. Crowds would gasp in disbelief. The impossible was made easy. If only the same could be said of entering a new secular year. The closing of one calendar and the opening of another is remarkably easy. However, the intractable problems of one year inevitably follow us into the next, leaving us wondering whethe

Is it too early to make concluding observations about 2025? The tennis world is in its Christmas/New Year hiatus with Australia set to be its focus when it reawakens throughout January. For most Australians, tennis has momentarily surrendered its attention to the joys and agonies  of cricket and Formula One racing. Australia bestrides the cricketing world like a colossus against the visiting traditional bete noire  English team. For cricket fans, an irresistible pun- so far t

After the rallies at a Grand Slam tournament finish, the reckoning and reflection begin. Who won and why? What were the highlights,...

If only history did not relentlessly seem to recycle events and moments! Only days after President Carter’s State funeral, we are...

If ever there was an example of humans rowing their metaphorical boats, “against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”, it...

Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas during the season of Advent.  In an increasingly secular Australia, the faithless...

Before we know it the summer season of tennis will begin in Australia. Both Djokovic and Kyrgios, along with the World’s No.1 female...

Tonight on Australia’s national broadcasting network the programme, Nemesis, premiered. It is a documentary which will chronicle the...

Reluctant as I am to use contemporary expressions that may not be understood by all, may I begin by offering the following ‘spoiler...

The Australian Open has six days to run and the openings for Australian success have closed in the Men’s and Women’s draws. Yesterday’s ...

Isn’t it remarkable that, notwithstanding all that has come before, the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve generates a collective...

For my sins, but with constant delight, I have taught Australian students for over 30 years about the structures and processes of its...

As one year ends and another-secular or lunar- begins, it is customary to reflect on those who have departed in the previous twelve...

As a new year beckons, it is inevitable that individuals and societies consider what their destiny may be in the months ahead....

“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony”. So said Margaret Thatcher, quoting St. Francis of Assisi, upon entering No. 10 Downing...