Happy Mother's day_10 May

Q: When was the first Mother's Day celebrated and why?
A: The tradition of gift giving to mothers on Mother's Day in Australia was started by Mrs Janet Heyden,
     a resident of Leichhardt Sydney, in 1924

Q: Is it celebrated all around the world?
A: Yes, it is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April, or
    May.

Q: Is it on the same day?
A: No, in Australia, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May every year.

Q: How do people celebrate this event?
A: Mother’s Day events and activities may include:

• Organized walks or runs to raise money for causes such as breast cancer research.
• Visits to the zoo, movies, or botanical gardens, or other places of interest.
• Breakfasts, brunches, lunches, afternoon teas or dinners at restaurants, cafes, or at home.
• Handmade gifts or cards being presented to mothers or mother figures.
• Flowers, chocolates, clothing, gift vouchers and other gifts that are given to mothers or mother figures.
• Mother’s Day poems being printed, broadcast, or presented to mothers and mother figures.
• Mother’s Day stories being publicized in magazines, newspapers, radio, television or the internet. 

Many families may also spend the day having a picnic in the park or the beach on Mother’s Day, if the weather allows it. Father’s Day is also celebrated in Australia on the first Sunday of September to honor fathers and father figures.

 

Q: Is it celebrated differently in your country?
A: Yes, actually, in my country, Korea, we have Parents' Day, which is similar to a combination of
     Father's Day and Mother's Day. Children usually visit their parents to celebrate on the weekend near
     Parentt's day because it is not holiday. The events for parents depend on what parents need to be given.
     So, the gifts can be a travel ticket, a great supper or spending money, etc.

The ANZAC day_26th April

The ANZAC day is 25th April each year so that we have remembered the brave people who have served our country in times of war. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Sometimes Australians are called Aussies and Australian soldiers are called Diggers. New Zealanders are called Kiwis after their native bird. They joined in the First World War, the Second Wolrd War to defend their country. Since then there have been other small wars and battles like in Vietnam and Korea, etc.

Australian can wear ANZAC badges and wave Australian flags to show how proud the brave people are. The Ode is part of a special poem that is said during the ANZAC Day service. Here are the words:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

We say in reply to the Ode; Lest We Forget.

Harmony Day_with Marion on March 22

Harmony day is celebrated around Australia on 21th March every year. It is managed and supported by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). This day has been celebrated since 1999. It is great opportunity for everyone to come together and join in local events. In addition, it is beneficial to understand one another's culuture by talking to each other and sharing traditional food together.

c.f: http://www.harmony.gov.au/about/

Conversation 1 (with everyday expressions)_on March 15

1. How are things with your neighbours these days?

2. We're getting on like a house on fire now.

3. It took a while to break the ice but we're getting on well now.

4. I remember you didn't get off to a good start.

5. We didn't hit it off when they first moved next door.

6. I thought they came across as abrupt and unfriendly.

7. They were there in a flash to offer help.

8. It dawned on me that I'd misunderstood their way of speaking. 

9. It's easy to get the wrong idea about people sometimes.

10 . We were having a chat.

11. I was quite taken aback at first and I thought they'd really overstepped the mark.

12. We have had a long conversation about the dos and don'ts in both our cultures.

13. We've probably all put our foot in it at some time.

14. The whole experience was an eye opener for me.

15. For a start, it taught me not to jump to conclusions about people.

16. It's easier said than done though, isn't it?

17. I'm going to try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

18. When all is said and done, I think people everywhere are really more the same than different.

Summary of News item_on March 15

Dragged from her school: fears for Mona-Lisa


Teen girl Mona-Lisa Tafengatoto was abducted from her school yesterday. A female teacher contacted police as soon as she saw Mona-Lisa being forcibly removed from a toilet block at Eagle Vale High School. She was dragged by her former boyfriend, Tovila Tufugaa.

Mona-Lisa was crying and visibly distressed. Police and Mona-Lisa's friend are concerned for her safety and police allege the assailant is a former boyfriend of hers. He is described as being 175cm tall, with a medium build, brown eyes and black hair. He has his surname tattooed on his neck.

Mona-Lisa is described as being 170cm tall, with a solid build, brown eye and long brown hair. They are believed to be Pacific Islander.

Clean Up Australia_with Marion on March 1

Summary of Clean Up Australia

   In 1989 an 'average Australian bloke' had a simple idea in order to make a difference in his own backyard - to clean up Sydney harbour. This idea has become the nation's largest community - based environmental event, and Clean Up Australia has been going on since then. 

The Australian environmental conservation organisation was established by Ian Kiernan and co-founder Kim Mckay. The official web site is http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/. 

Clean Up Australia events include Clean Up Australia Day, Business Clean up Day, Schools Clean up Day, Clean up Every Day, Clean up Dumping, and Great Northern Clean up as well. In addition, some other events they do are Clean up Mobile Phones, Clean Up Our Climate, Clean Up The World and Say no to Plastic Bags. Clean Up Australia Day is held on the first Sunday of March every year. 

In the past 20 years, Australians have dedicated more than 24 million hours towards the environment through Clean Up Australia Day and pick up over 200,000 tonnes of the refuse. 

   Clean Up the World was born in 1993 with the result that Ian and Kim took the concept of Clean Up Australia Day to the rest of the world. The appeal of Clean Up the World has demonstrated that people who dwell on the earth are concerned the importance of the health environment. 

c.f: http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/CleanUpEvents/clean-up-australia-day-2012.html

Write a letter to a sports magazine_on February 23

I don’t agree with the opinion that everybody cheats in sports because I think a lot of sportsmen and women are always trying to play the game.

Sometimes there is an impure ploy to have some benefits in their games, but I believe that it only happens in sports in which many players compete. For example, fouling in football games. Basically, I blame the player who puts it on during the game while trying to extend the injury time or who dives and falls down on purpose to trick referees in football games. It’s also true that is a very funny situation when the player stands up and runs around again a few minutes later as though nothing had happened.

However, I reckon the reason we are watching and supporting sports games is that we believe the sporting sprit is still alive. Hopefully, this will also happen on the field.