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Sydney and the
Olympics: Idle thoughts of an idle fellow
by Peter Cummins
Sydney 2000, the first Olympiad of the new millennium,
opens today, with an estimated global audience of two billion people
focusing on the “Jewel of the Pacific”. Our Pattaya Mail special
correspondent Peter Cummins went to Sydney recently, for the first time in
44 years. Although Peter went to “size-up” preparations for and to write
some stories about the Olympic Games, he observed much more than a city in
the throes of an Olympic extravaganza. In this first part of a two-part
story, our scribe presents some insights into what makes Sydney tick, from a
perspective tempered by almost half a century. Here are some of his
impressions, with this edition focusing more on the Games.
 The
writer at the Sydney Media Centre. Photo Annie
The “Otranto”, one of the oldest, and certainly
shabbiest passenger liners of the equally ailing British P. and O. Line,
gradually slid out of the berth at Circular Quay. The forest of streamers
from the wharf to the ship’s rail slowly broke as the vessel gained
momentum. My last impression was that of a roll of toilet paper, thrown by a
friend on the shore, curving in a great arc right into my hands.
It represented, basically, my last, tenuous link with
Australia. When it, too, broke, I felt that the umbilical cord tying me to
the homeland had also been severed.
It was the 25th of February, 1956. Australia - Melbourne
- was preparing for the first Olympiad to be held in the Southern
Hemisphere. An avid Anglophile in the guise of Robert Menzies was the prime
minister of a country of some 10 million, 95 percent of Anglo-Irish stock.
Sydney was a dreary, boring replica - apart from the beaches and the climate
- of life in the old country. The Australian Commonwealth was just over 50
years old.
 The
Olympic yachting: right in the urban area and visible to all. Photo Peter
Cummins
As the French proverb has it, “the more things change,
the more they remain the same”. Well, on returning to Sydney for the first
time, just last month, as the Commonwealth reached its one-hundredth
birthday, I found a few things the same. For example, Prime Minister John
Howard certainly is no different from his role model Menzies of four decades
ago, with his infatuation with all things British. As the Sydney Morning
Herald said it so aptly: “Howard and his ilk are hankering, slavishly,
after the old country.” The most recent manifestation being when Howard
“led” a group of some 200 Australians to London to celebrate the
hundredth anniversary of the granting of royal assent to the act which
established the Commonwealth of Australia in 1900. “Celebrating Federation
in London is preposterous,” the Herald editorialized.
 The
magnificent Stadium Australia, built to accommodate 110,000. Photo Peter
Cummins
Nothing to shout about
The language, curiously, had not changed that much
either. It was a strange collection of abbreviations and Australianisms
which I had totally forgotten in the intervening years. I realized that a
‘jumper’ was not solely an Olympic competitor; in the vernacular it
means a ‘pullover’. I grappled with such terms peppering the local press
as pre-nups, wowserism, rorting, boonies, scallywags, brekkie, pokies,
bottlos, pollies, mozzies, u-ees and barbies (not the doll!). In fact, a
whole ‘ute-full’ (sic) of slang, cliches and colloquialisms.
 No!
That is not the Olympic flame; just a busker making a dollar at Sydney
Harbour. Photo Peter Cummins
Some of the headlines were also evocative of a special
Australian flavour: “Star-mangled spanner in history’s works,” the
heading for a highly critical article about Hollywood distortions of
history, was a classic of the genre, with a clear double-entendre.
“Fraud of the rings” followed suit, and was an expose
of “Mafia shadows, drug running, money laundering and nepotism” which,
according to that particular article, have distorted and perverted the
Olympic ideals throughout history.
 The
opening night will look like this display at the end of the old millennium.
Photo Peter Cummins
One more, closer home, was a nice play on one of
Australia’s world-renowned tourist and sporting attractions, as well as an
un-concealed swipe at the country’s immigration policies. “Time to end
the great barrier grief” says it all!
Enjoying an excellent wine at Sydney’s famous Darling
Harbour last Saturday, I struck up a conversation with a local who refilled
my wine glass while he downed several good Fosters. Looking pointedly at his
empty glass, he told me that I should shout. I had nothing particularly on
my tiny mind that I considered worth shouting about. He very quickly
reminded me that Aussie pub lore requires an imbiber to return hospitality
and ‘shout a round’ for one received. I obliged - without even a
whimper!
 Darling
Harbour and the Sydney Bridge. Photo Peter Cummins
On the subject of language, the press seems to have
become quite “politically-correct” in usage of terms, especially when
referring to sensitive areas such as ethnic minorities, religion and, of
course, the realm of the female, a territory, in the western press at least,
fraught with pitfalls for the unwary. I was surprised to read that Nicole
Kidman was an actor; I always thought that she was an actress. But then,
looking at some of the other females being touted in the entertainment world
of Down Under, I think that ‘actor’ IS the more appropriate designation.
Sydney: metamorphosed by the Olympiad
I left on the eve of the 16th Olympiad and returned as
preparations for the 27th Games were reaching fever pitch and, except for a
certain sameness which I have observed above, I returned to a city I could
scarcely recognize.
The Games, of course, have had a huge effect on the face
of Sydney and, in terms of a sports venue, it can only be described in
superlatives: Jose Antonio Samaranch, head honcho of the International
Olympic Committee - a man not given to praising and flattering - as early as
February stated, “The facilities at Sydney are the best in Olympic
history.” The magnificent Stadium Australia, built at the Olympic site,
Homebush Bay, is the biggest ever, with seating for 110,000. No doubt,
sports-mad Aussies will find excellent use for this when the Games are over.
 The
controversial Beach Volleyball arena at Bondi Beach. Photo Peter Cummins
Sydney 2000, mooted as the “First Green Games”, has
incorporated the biggest - and most environmentally - friendly - athletes
village where all 10,000 competitors will be housed. It boasts the most
advanced solar-power and solar water-heating systems in the world in what
will become the world’s largest solar-powered suburb in the post Games
era.
From this focal position, thousands of the competitors
will be able to walk to their respective venues. Even the yacht racing will
be within the urban area, clearly visible from a myriad Sydney Harbour hills
and vantage points: both firsts for an Olympiad.
 Surfers
at Manly: what a lifestyle! Photo Peter Cummins
The massive Olympic complex covers 760 hectares, complete
with a wetlands, bird reservation and a superb park where thousands of
native trees were brought in by barges for they were too big to truck. And
all this has been carved out of a once-ghastly and polluted wasteland.
The list continues. The Olympic Torch Relay, travelling
over 27,000 km of the nation’s territory, passing through 1,000 towns and
suburbs, within one hour’s drive of eighty-five percent of the population,
carried by some 1,000 “torch bearers”, is the longest in history. The
flame, lit in Athens in May 2000, has travelled by plane, boat, on
horseback, on a Sydney ferry, a surf-boat at Bondi Beach, even under-water
off Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef and, of course, by 2,000 human legs,
the oldest ‘runner’ being a WWI veteran, Jack Lockett weighing in at 109
years-of-age.
I came back to a jewel of a city, which, for the third
time in successive years, has been voted as the world’s best city to visit
and the world’s best lifestyle city by a number of international
publications, including the prestigious US magazine Travel and Leisure. The
International Congress and Conventional Association has just voted Sydney as
“the World’s Number One Convention City”.
Next week: What makes Sydney so great and people-friendly.
Pattaya Sports Club
Charity Classic 2000
Street Kids Project
by Harry Riley
It was in August 1999, just 1 year earlier that I
produced a list of suggested projects for the forthcoming PSC Charity Classic
2000 to the organising committee. Amongst these suggestions was a proposal
to investigate a new project near the elephant farm, which was going to be
used as new home for kids who are normally homeless.
 (L
to R) Harry Riley, Stephen Beard, Father Peter and Mike Franklin with some
happy kids the final presentation day for the 4th Charity Classic.
We all agreed that this project certainly required
looking into. After meeting with Father Peter and the future staff at the
new street kids project, it was decided that we could not adopt a better
project than to drill a well and construct a holding tower for the purpose
of supplying clean water to a bunch of underprivileged kids. After Father
Peter, complete with divining twig, decided on a suitable place to drill
this was duly completed.
 The
kids gather round the new gardening equipment
The PSC Charity Classic was so successful, with a load of
players winning some magnificent prizes supplied by our sponsors, that
after completing the water project we still had funds available. Again we
held discussions with Father Peter and it was then decided “Lets help to
feed the kids”. The remaining funds were then used to buy a sprinkler
system for the vegetable garden and assorted agricultural equipment,
including a mowing machine, plowing machine and an assortment of hand
implements.
All this finally came to fruition on August 27th 2000 -
the final presentation day for the 4th Charity Classic. On behalf of the
PSC Charity Classic committee: Stephen Beard, Mike Franklin, Jimmy Little,
Steve Mascari and myself, we would like to thank all the sponsors, players
and anyone who helped in any way for their great support in such a
worthwhile project.
A little note from Father Peter and his kids: “May God Be With You
All”.
Bowling Tournament
dedicated to help the aged
by Peter Cummins
In just two weeks, Pattaya shall have our own “sports
fest”, namely the first “Golden 3 Bowling Tournament” to be held at
the O.D. Hotel and Bowling complex, Pratumnak Road, South Pattaya.
Generously supported by the newly opened TOPS supermarket
and organized by the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, the first of the
three-part tournament will be held on Saturday, 30 September 2000, from
10.00 - 20.00 hours, with all proceeds being donated to the Banglamung Home
For the Aged.
Furthermore, to emphasize the importance it places on any
event arranged to help the aged, the A.X. Fassbind Foundation simultaneously
will donate considerable funds to upgrading facilities at the Fassbind
Medical Home already operating.
The Home for the Aged, situated in the Banglamung
District of Chonburi Province has, since its establishment in 1968, provided
shelter and care for senior citizens. There are presently 286 old people -
comprising 186 women and 97 men - who live there, with ages ranging from 67
to 108.
The complex, on the sea side of Sukhumvit Road, consists
of 16 “dormitory-style” housing units of 22 beds. There is an acute lack
of storage space for the residents to maintain their clothing and to store
their few meagre personal items - the legacy of their respective lives.
The contribution of TOPS and all proceeds from the
tournament will then be disbursed to purchase steel storage lockers for
residents at the Banglamung Home - an estimated cost of baht 230,000.
The “Golden 3” Charity Bowling Tournament is so named
for it will be organized into three separate events comprising teams of
three bowlers (captain and two players) and eventually three separate
tournaments.
The tournament is open to all-comers who will be graded
as amateurs or professionals. The first game will provide 10 frames for each
bowler, with each player’s final results added to that team’s grand
total.
Although the second game will comprise 10 frames also, it
will be a little different and more challenging. Each player has to estimate
how many points he/she will score. The difference between the actual points
and the estimate will be subtracted from the grand total of Game Two. A
bonus of 25 points will be awarded to any bowler right on his/her estimated
target, and added to the grand total.
The third game allows each player only one ‘shot’ -
the ‘Golden 3 shots’. The total score of the team is then multiplied by
three to tally the third game’s total score.
The final placings in both ranks (am. and pro.) will be
determined according to each team’s overall score and prizes will be
awarded thus: First team: Baht 9,000 cash + trophy. Second team: Baht 6,000
cash + trophy. Third team: Baht 3,000 cash + trophy. 4th to 10th: A souvenir
for all teams. The team judged to be wearing the most original costume will
receive baht 3,000 + trophy. Additionally, there will be a special
“sponsor’s prize” of 1/2 a baht of gold for each member of the two
winning pro and amateur teams in each tournament. Entry fee of baht 1,500
will be levied on each team (of three) and each member will receive a
designer T-shirt.
Entries, on or before Wednesday, 27 September (the
closing date), can be lodged with: Any member of the Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary
Club, Bruno’s Restaurant, North Pattaya, Tropic Restaurant, Naklua Road,
North Pattaya, AA Homefinders Co., Ltd, Pattaya Bazaar, North Pattaya,
Tony’s Cool Spot, Walking Street, South Pattaya, or O.D. Bowling Hall,
South Pattaya.
Urgent FCCT
Journalists’ Meeting
It is no secret that the FCCT is having troubles. Most
of members have heard the rumors. The FCCT is in dire financial straits
and the future of the club is at stake. It is urgent that all members pull
together to consider what to do.
There are a number of alternatives to be considered to
save the FCCT. This cherished institution of Southeast Asian journalism
needs the help of its journalist members to address the crisis and build
for the future.
Please come to a special journalists meeting to discuss
the situation on Friday 15 September at the club, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Subject: Future of the FCCT - Your help is needed!
ATCC Standard Chartered
Bank e-commerce network
The Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce invites young
professionals and those young at heart to the Standard Chartered Bank
e-commerce network. Come and hear the latest in e-commerce and WAP
technology from Ericsson expert, Dr Wichuda Na Songkhla, Wednesday 27
September, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Compass Rose Room, 59th Floor of
the Westin Banyan Tree Hotel. Cost is baht 150 per person (includes
cocktail food and one free drink). Generously sponsored by Standard
Chartered Bank.
Dr Wichuda graduated Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and
Accountancy from Chulalongkorn University, Graduate’s Degrees in
Business Administration and Information Systems, and Doctoral degree in
Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA. As a
member of Ericsson Business Consulting, she has recently worked on the
solution development of Wireless Internet, Wireless E-Commerce, WAP, GPRS,
Security for Mobile network, and 3G technology, Call Center, Customer
Relationship Management, and Network Management System.
RSVP to Khun Pathaya at fax 675 6696 or e-mail [email protected]
Four Winds blows a good
breeze for PILC
The Sri Racha based door-to-door movers, the Four Winds
International Group, have stepped in as the big movers to assist the Pattaya
International Ladies Club (PILC) with the October Bazaar, and with some much
needed sponsorship.
Other parties have also come forward for this Charity
Bazaar to offer some splendid prizes for the raffles (books of 12 tickets
for only 500 baht, or 50 baht each). These include such indulgences as 2
nights in a luxury pavilion suite at the Regent Resort, Chiang Mai, 2 nights
in an executive suite at the Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok or jewelry from
Jeanny’s Gems and Thai Bijoux.
For those who are into the travelling mode, there is a
round trip ticket for two to Bali from the Travel Clinic and Lauda Air, two
round trip tickets to Singapore from Finnair, two round trip tickets to Hong
Kong from World Travel Service and even two round trips to Chiang Mai (so
you can get to the Regent Resort, perhaps)!
There are also many other prizes, such as a large TV from
Lotus Supercentre and even a carpet from Pandit. Raffle tickets are
available now but if you are unsure of where to get them, give Frances
McGarry a ring on 251 972 and she will supply as many books as you want.
The Bazaar opens on Saturday October 7th at the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort’s Siam Ballroom, and further details on the event, or
about any of the 76 stalls that are offering such incredible bargains again
this year, can be had from the chairwoman for PILC Special Events Arlette
Cykman on 300 325 or from the President of the PILC Julie Garratt on 306
150.
German Thai Chamber also
chooses Pattaya
The 6th “Stammtisch” (informal pub night) for the
German Thai Chamber of Commerce was held last weekend at the Moon River Pub.
A good turnout of the local German speaking community was present as well as
the Chamber’s members.
A large proportion of the development on the Eastern
Seaboard has German origins, like the newly opened BMW assembly factory.
 (L
to R) Thai Garden Resort Guest Services Manager Onno Kaphengst, Amari
General Manager Jo Stetton and Thai Garden Resort General Manager Rene E. H.
Pisters talk business during the German Stammtisch at the Moon River Pub.
Director of the German Thai Chamber, Dr. Paul Strunk was
his usual forthright self and indicated his Chamber’s positive approach to
the Thai economy, echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai,
who said that the economic recovery will be based on industry expansion and
exportation. With 28.6 billion USD exported last year from Thailand’s
industrial manufacturers, Dr. Strunk can be rightly proud of the German Thai
Chamber member’s involvement in this.
Also looking very proud was Gerd-Udo Hauser, the
representative of the German head office of DaimlerChrysler, following the
successful launch of the new C Class Mercedes, with Thailand being the first
right hand drive country to receive the new car.
The Chamber holds their Stammtisch every second month in
Pattaya and the next one will be held at the Amari Orchid Resort. The
Pattaya Mail will give advance notice of the date and venue.
BCCT pick Pattaya again
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand held a most
successful “Pub Night” at Delaney’s last weekend. With sponsorship
from the international movers, Global Silverhawk, and from Delaney’s
themselves, there was ample food and drink for the networkers.
 (L
to R) BCCT Eastern Seaboard representative Graham Macdonald, Gerrit J de
Nys, CEO of Unithai Group of Companies and Iain K Cruickshank, GM of
Wackenhut (Thailand) Co., Ltd. “network” at the BCCT Pub Night at
Delaney’s.
With lubrication from Carlsberg, the attendees were in
good voice after two hours and there was much exchanging of business cards.
The Chamber was very heartened to see a number of new faces in attendance at
the Pub Night, with newcomers such as Rob Denham from Northern Thai Realty
(Beach Road Division) stating that he considered it was an excellent concept
and he was looking forward to making further new contacts at next month’s
meeting.
Executive Director Greg Watkins came down from Bangkok
for the meeting and appeared rushed off his feet, with many people seeking
his views on the recent movements in the Thai business community.
With over 60% of Thailand’s manufacturing export
businesses on the Eastern Seaboard, the local representative of the Chamber,
Graham Macdonald was also very pleased with the success of the evening and
felt that the increased business confidence in the region was reflected in
the good turnout of members and guests.
Legislation on child
prostitutes questioned
from the Child Labour News Service
Legislation should be amended to ensure that child
prostitutes are treated as victims and not criminals, a conference on
children’s rights heard in Bloemfontein, South Africa recently.
Children caught selling their bodies were still subject
to prosecution, while some pieces of legislation did not even mention the
culpability of their customers, according to Andre Viviers, Assistant
Director in the Department of Welfare.
“The majority of legislation in South Africa was
designed by people who had no understanding of the dynamics of the child sex
industry - and with little regard for children’s rights,” he said.
Statistics on child prostitution were very unreliable,
but it was believed that hundreds of thousands of South African children
were involved in the trade.
The industry was varied, ranging from pornographic
websites, videos and magazines, to child sex tourism.
The conference also discussed the prevalence of child
labour in South Africa.
According to Mandisa Pamla, a senior administration
officer in the Department of Labour, 1996 statistics put the figure at about
400,000 children between the ages of 10 and 16.
However, research conducted last year has revealed
alarming statistics, she told the conference.
The research, which could not yet be divulged, also
implicated a number of government departments in inactivity in this regard.
Pamla said the department was currently working on a
policy to clear up confusion surrounding the status of working children
between the ages of 15 and 18.
According to legislation, children were compelled to
attend school up to the age of 15, while the prohibition on child labour
applied to all those under 18. This meant that those leaving school at 15
were not actually allowed to work for the next three years.
This apparent inconsistency has never been properly
addressed.
The Labour Department, Pamla said, was having difficulty
identifying companies making use of child labour, as it only had about 500
inspectors. It was therefore relying on the public and welfare officials to
report any such cases.
Also, the department’s biggest concern is replacing the
income of children being removed from the employment sector, many of whom
were supporting entire families.
These matters would be looked into once the results of
the survey had been formally released, she said.
The survey was commissioned by the Labour Department and
conducted by Stats SA.
Thought for the week: Attracting
Buyers
by Richard Townsend,
Corporate Learning Consultant
http://www.orglearn.org
Imagine if the sales team didn’t have to go out and
scour the market place for hot prospects by laboriously sorting through cold
leads to find a few hot ones! How much time could be saved and how much more
effectively they could spend their time if they only talked to hot
prospects? Don’t be silly Richard, that can’t happen - your talking
about a perfect world you silly boy. Well maybe; however, here are a few
ideas on how to attract buyers, rather than just go hunting for them.
Firstly remember, when a potential customer seeks us out
they are actually asking for our help and they are likely to think of our
organisation and us as problem solvers or even business partners rather than
a “seller of product”. As mentioned in previous articles, that critical
ingredient “trust” is more likely to be present when a buyer approaches
us rather than when we intrude on the prospect in an attempt to ‘flog our
wares’.
A periodical ‘Newsletter’ is a great way to generate
interest. Most of our customers need information on our industry at least
once a year. For example, if you are in the hotel business, financial
controllers, training managers, and sales conference organisers need to
estimate accommodation costs at budget time. Why not become their expert
help by providing market trends on pricing in our region? If we’re in the
automobile industry, how about providing a guide to used car prices so fleet
managers can see if they will be better to trade their old cars this year or
next year. What about drug or instrument developments for doctors, computer
breakthroughs for IT managers, financial trends for CEO’s or trends in
timber costs for builders. Whatever our industry there are company
executives in our marketplace that need information on various aspects of
that industry. If we think about who they are, we can become what all good
salespeople aspire to be, that is... be seen as an authority in our field
and establish ourselves as a useful resource... or at least a reliable
source of information.
If salespeople produce a newsletter on a regular basis
the marketplace will learn who they are and relationships can be more easily
established. It follows then that when decision makers have a question about
our industry, they will think of us, will be attracted to us and when they
need something will tend to call us... vastly increasing the likelihood of
us doing business... all without us having to do any “aggressive
“selling at all. Another great thing about newsletters is that the natural
growth in readership is amazing and as the readership grows so does the
business.
Seminars are another great way to attract interested
buyers. Obviously anytime we can get in front of a large group of people (on
a reasonably regular basis) some of the audience are going to be naturally
attracted to either us or our product and services. Rotary clubs and the
like often provide a great way for us to subtly sell our organisation and
ourselves. But more about that next week, I know you’re busy!
Worth a try!
To contact Ric mailto: [email protected]
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
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Skal
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Pattaya
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