Although the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are now in the bag, the water cooler banter lives on. Here at Global Medical, the sport that has taken center stage is not the Super G or hockey, but the oft-derided and very misunderstood sport of 
curling. So enough with the beer jokes already; curling is NOT shuffleboard with brooms on ice, and Tim Smart, our venerated Assistant Comptroller, is here to enlighten us. You see, Tim - who started curling two years ago - is a fanatic. In fact, he now trains at the Kerns Olympic Oval, the home arena to curling and more at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games.
Tim says the lackluster aura that has surrounded the sport is not lack of interest, but lack of knowledge. Since the sport debuted at the Nagano Games in 1998, in fact, curling has practically gained rock star status, and it was one of the hottest tickets at the Vancouver Games (highly appropriate, given that Canada is the most curling-rabid country on the planet). It also explains why Canada took the Gold in Vancouver, something Tim predicted would happen. He didn't put money on it, but he's still gloating.
Also, curling is the only Winter Olympic sport that increased its TV audience from 2002 to 2006. Online, the 2006 women's skip, Cassie Johnson, nearly beat out Bode Miller on the nbcolympics.com list of most-trafficked athletes. And in Vancouver, NBC aired 100 hours of curling, plus live-streaming video. Really? Curling? Give it a chance, says Tim. And let him dazzle us with his knowledge of the game.
Curling involves two teams of four players each who take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones across the ice curling sheet towards the house - a circular target marked on the ice. The purpose is to get your stones to rest closest to the center of the house at the conclusion of each end. When each team has thrown their stones, the one with the highest score wins.
What's with the brooms? The curler (who throws the stone) can induce a curved path by causing the stone to slowly turn as it slides, but the path of the rock is further influenced by two sweepers who accompany the stone down the sheet, using the brooms to alter the state of the ice in front of the stone. There is actually a great deal of strategy and teamwork that goes into choosing the ideal path and placement for each situation, and the skills of the curlers determine how close to the target the stone rests.
Turns out, curling originated in Scotland in the late 16th century. In fact, the granite stones used in curling still come from a protected island off Scotland called Alisa Craig. According to Tim, no special skills are really needed to compete in the sport, after all, our humble friend reminds us, he does it. You need flexibility enough to get off a good slide, which has all of us in the office stretching.
Perhaps a locum experience in New Zealand or Australia might be just what a rolling stone needs to learn how to slide a stone. However, don't call it "curling" Down Under. There, it's "the roaring game" because of the noise the stones make as they slide over the frozen droplets of water that adorn the ice surface. So as the Kiwi's say, "have a go!"
You'll also find plenty of rabid curling fans in the U.S., where you'll find a whole ‘lotta locum going on. There's a national governing body of the sport, USA Curling, which sponsors events, offers memberships and training for every level, including juniors and wheelchair curling. Got curling fever? You'll find arenas everywhere from Anchorage, Alaska to Wilmette, Illinois. Learn more about clubs near you. And don't blame us when you become addicted, blame Mr. Smart.
Cries of "Torah, Torah, Torah!" were heard 'round the world last week, as a young snowboarder from Australia took the Gold in the Women's Halfpipe. After falling on her first run, Torah Bright, 23, knew it was win or lose as she approached her final try, and with an air of reckless abandon, Bright turned in a run that could not be topped on the world stage of the Olympics.
In a wild twist of fate, Torah Bright and Global Medical call the same place home - Salt Lake City, Utah. Seems obvious, as this is where you'll find the "Best Snow on Earth". It's also where Bright found her future husband, whom she plans to marry in June.
Bright's ties with Global go deeper still, as we have roots in the same cities and towns in Australia. Her birthplace - Cooma, New South Wales - has been a favorite adventure spot for numerous locum tenens taking a turn Down Under. Bright's hometown, which is nestled at the base of the Snowy Mountains (or the "Snowies"), is also home to the highest Australian mountain range and the Australian mainland's highest mountain - Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 meters. Mainland Australia's only true Alpine region, the Snowies get large, natural snowfalls every winter during June, July and early August.
But how did Bright get from the Snowies of NSW Australia, to the Wasatch Mountains of SLC Utah, and then to Coast Mountains of BC Canada for the Olympic Games? When you're born in the Snowies, it sticks. By the age two Bright was on skis and by age eleven she emerged onto the snowboarding scene, turning pro at just 14. During the 2003-04 season, Bright was a runner up for the World Cup title, taking 30th at the 2005 World Championships in Whistler, Canada. In 2006, Bright became the only Australian to win a gold medal in the Winter X Games, beating US Olympic medalists Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter.
In 2007, Bright won first prize at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon open, and her momentum continued when she edged out the 2002 Olympic Gold medalist, Kelly Clark, for the World Super Pipe Championships in Park City, Utah. Then that same year, she took the 2007 Ticket to Ride Snowboard Tour Championships.
At just 23, Bright's future is, well, bright. And while performing a stunning switchback 720 for a score of 45 out of 50 from th
e judges in her final run at the 2010 Winter Olympics was quite a feat, the real honor came when she was chosen to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremonies - all of which has brought tremendous joy to the hearts of family and friends. It's also put Salt Lake City, Utah and Australia at the forefront of everyday conversation. Good on ya, Torah!
Gently undulating couch fairways; plush bentgrass greens; back lips;
and phenomenal bunkers. Dr. Alister MacKenzie did it all, designing courses like the Augusta National in Georgia - one of the most storied and exclusive golf clubs in the world and the only one that has played host to the Masters tournament since 1934.
Trained as doctor, MacKenzie was a surgeon for the military during the Second Boer War. When he returned for a second tour of duty, however, he didn't repair damaged tissues and organs, he designed camouflage - something that admittedly influenced his golf course design. "The chief object of every golf course architect worth his salt is to imitate the beauties of nature so closely as to make his work indistinguishable from nature itself."
From camouflage, to the best architect the golf world has ever seen.
MacKenzie designed some of the top-rated golf courses around the world, among them, Australia's Royal Melbourne Golf Club, West Course. The country's unchallenged Number 1 course, the RMGC West Course is also widely regarded as the finest course south of the equator.
Then there's the beautifully landscaped, par 72 course in the beachside suburb of Cheltenham: Victoria Golf Club. At the heart of the world-famous Melbourne Sandbelt, Victoria challenges the amateur and professional golfer alike.
Which brings us to a yet another piece of design genius, The New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse in Sydney with, according to MacKenzie, "more spectacular views than any other place 
I know..." And the course isn't just stunningly beautiful, it's been said that no other course offers a more diverse range of challenges in a single round. Says one La Perouse fan, "If you can get to the top of the hill at the 5th and you still think of your troubles - you've got troubles..." Naturally, the course generally ranks among the Top 50 in the World.
So check your troubles (and yips) at the door, and head to the land Down Under to golf MacKenzie's courses - and more - while you locum.
Have a locum or golf story to tell? Share and share alike.
On the edge of the eastern plains of New Mexico, at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sits a little town said to have been the worst of the biggest, baddest Old West Towns. A key stop on the Santa Fe Trail, the town hosted the likes of Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp; Doc Holliday kept his dental office here; and the Rough Riders first met in the saloon of the Plaza Hotel here (you can still get a shot of tequila at the saloon). This historic area 
is surrounded by recreation and wilderness experiences, including Hermit Peak's summit. Try the long trail hike with a strenuous series of switchbacks up the cliffs and you're rewarded by great views to the south and east. And if you prefer the movie screen to nature's background, look around - this town is the filming location for numerous movies including No Country for Old Men, Wyatt Earp and the landmark counterculture film Easy Rider. Move over, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. What locum tenens represents is freedom...
Come to New Mexico and walk where humans have lived for at least 11,000 years, then stand at the incredible White Sands National Monument. Here, in the Tularosa Basin, you'll think you've been transported to a foreign 
land. Amidst its scenic desert dunes, you'll also discover dormant volcanoes, ancient lava flows, ice caves, fossil sites, and archeological digs that traverse the state's scenic byways. New Mexico is no place for the yips, either; the state has over 70 golf courses, including Twin Warriors Golf Club and the dramatic Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club - two of the nation's top 50.
Despite the ghost of Billy the Kid and depictions of "hippie" societal movements, New Mexico isn't all about the past; this Land of Enchantment is a haven for anyone interested in the future of science and technology. You'll find 
Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, and several astronomical observatories, including the Very Large Array right here in New Mexico. Plus, the Museum of Space History (which resides in a majestic four-story golden cube) will give you an experience that's anything but terrestrial.
"Mile after magnificent mile" is how the Illinois Bureau of Tourism bills this great state - the very one that brought us Oprah, the Cubs, the White Sox, the Bulls, da Bears, and, yes, even the Commander in Chief. But Illinois isn't all about the Windy City. How about trading lunch at your desk for lunch at Hallie's, Home of the Famous Schnitzel? Or creating family memories at a place called Grizzly Jack's rather than Chuck E. Cheese? Or even better, how about making your way through a thousand-year-old forest instead of a thousand e-mails? Locum here and enjoy the many wonders of Illinois, starting with these 7.
#1: The Baha'i House of Worship i
s one of only seven Baha'i temples in the world, and it's truly a "site" to behold. Like all Baha'i Houses of Worship, the unique structure of this temple is circular, has nine sides and is surrounded by exquisite gardens and fountains. For information about visiting click here.
#2: The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the flow of the mighty Mississippi as it curves along the western edge of Illinois and meanders for more than 550 miles - traveling through charming small towns and offering beautiful river and woodland views along the way.
#3: Blackhawk State Historic Site is a picture-book forest in the middle of the city with hiking trails that wind deep into the woods and up rugged hills. This rolling 208-acre tract was home to prehistoric Indians, but the area is most closely identified with the Sauk nation and the warrior-leader whose name it bears.
#4: Allerton is a Park and Retreat with 1,500 acres of Mother Nature's beauty including the Sangamon River, a meandering meadow and a
30-acre prairie. See over 100 sculptures and garden ornaments; traverse 14 miles of hiking trails; or tour the century-old, Georgian-style mansion with reflecting pond. A genteel sense of beauty and hospitality is reflected here on a stage set of magnolias, moonlight and manners.
#5: Rend Lake is most often referred to Southern Illinois' Playground, and you'll soon find out why. Here, you can fish, camp, boat, swim, hunt, bike, trap shoot, shop, savor fine fare, visit wineries, dinner theaters and museums, relish opera, and more. Opera and trap shooting, what more could you want?
#6: Starved Rock State Park is where you'll discover unexpected wonders like more than 18 canyons, which were formed by glacial melt-waters that slice dramatically through tree-covered, sandstone bluffs for miles. Waterfalls are also nestled in 2,630 acres of lush forests, where you also catch spectacular views of the Illinois River.
#7: Wrigley Field says it all. The second oldest active baseball park in the major leagues and the oldest standing park in the National League, "Friendly Confines" was the hold-out ballpark against night games until 1988, when baseball officials refused to allow the hometown Cubs to play any post-season games without lights. Wrigley installed lights. But night games are still limited in number by agreement with the city council. Visit Wrigley for thrill of the game, chaw on a Chicago dawg, or for that matter, enjoy the architecture: Wrigley Field has been designated a Chicago Landmark and it's been determined eligible for designation as a National Historic landmark. Now that's something to cheer about.
You can view video footage of the Seven Wonders of Illinois on YouTube.
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If we've seen it once, we've seen it a million times; doctors who locum Down Under get caught up in the grips of a grueling affliction known as fear and loathing of packing. Despite months of planning, these doctors and their families preparing for locum assignments are left staring at their suitcases for untold amounts of time, unsure about what to take and what not to take. Symptoms include melancholy; fear of exorbitant airport charges for overstuffed luggage; fear of not having their Aquafresh toothpaste in Refreshing Ice Mint flavor, and more. They become morose, ill-humored, broken or really "pack the sad," as they say Down Under. Dr. Kathryn Starkey, a veteran locum for Global Medical, and her partner, Molly Evans, have experienced the effects of this disorder first-hand and have offered up a fine solution: The Starkey & Evans Definite Guide to Packing for a Locum Adventure Down Under.
First, start with the usual items, but maintain limits. They recommend two pairs of tennis shoes, three-to-four nice shirts, three pairs of pants for work, two pairs of jeans, three pairs of shorts, three long-sleeved shirts, three t-shirts, one bathing suit and plenty of underwear. Leave the lab coats at home because you won't need them.
Incidentals might include a hat (to protect you from the sun), an umbrella, a fleece vest, flip flops, or "jandals" as you'll come to call them, lightweight zip-off pants (the ones that convert into shorts), and a small collapsible bag for day trips. Dr. Starkey and Ms. Evans also recommend a few electronics like a small battery-powered radio, a digital camera (with an extra battery and flash card), a power adaptor for both New Zealand and Australia, a secure flash drive to backup your financials, and for fun, a Kindle or an iPod. Leave your hair dryer at home and buy one on the cheap when you get where you're going - it'll have the right electric plug!
One severe side effect of fear and loathing of packing is a condition you've all experienced right here: "sticker shock." It hits you when you're on the ground in your new country and you realize the price for some common household items is a bit higher. Alas, Dr. Starkey and Ms. Evans are on the mark here, as well. Their advice: pack personal items like deodorant and toothpaste, as they tend to be far more expensive, and they have limited brands/flavors.
They also recommend packing a flashlight, bug spray, binoculars, and sunscreen. If you're traveling into the Outback or another remote area, they recommend a small sewing kit and a Swiss Army Knife. But don't worry about a corkscrew - everything here has a screw-on cap. If you have a favorite medical book, try to get it online and burn the book to a disk. The hard copy will only weigh you down. A small pocket reference is always helpful, but most hospitals have Internet access for reference materials like "Up to Date."
Without a doubt, there will be some items you simply can't jam into a suitcase and there's no getting around it. But knowing what you're likely to spend will help. As of today's date, the exchange rate in NZ is 1 USD=1.4 NZD. In Australia, the exchange rate is 1 USD = 1.1 AUD. A family of four residing in NZ should budget roughly $150 USD per week for groceries, while the same family in AU will spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $180 USD.
Just as in the good 'ol US-of-A, it's always a good idea to shop around for the best prices; milk, for instance, would be less expensive in a supermarket rather than in a corner store. The four major grocery chains - Foodtown, Big Fresh, Woolworths and wWorld - are competitive. Naturally, Dr. Starkey and Ms. Evans admonish you to take some pictures from home to adorn your refrigerator.
So quit worrying about the packing and focus on the amazing adventure ahead of you. Simply follow the Starkey & Evans Definite Guide to Packing - it's truly the dinky-di (real thing).
Dr. Kathy Starkey (left), an OB/GYN, and her partner, Molly Evans (right), have wanderlust in their veins. Their locum adventures have taken them to New Zealand's North Island, the Caymans, Western Australia (twice) and now the Kiwi South Island. In addition to great packers, they're also great storytellers. Watch here for more of Dr. Starkey and Molly's amazing tales about Down Under and beyond.
You may have read in the January edition of our Hemispheres
newsletter that the Global Medical staff has embarked on a 2010 adventure that will take us around the world. Oh-so-cleverly dubbed "Relay Around the World," if you missed the announcement in the newsletter, well, then perhaps it's time for you to subscribe!
The folks of fortitude here are determined to lead healthier lives and this year that means exercise. A lot of exercise. In that vein, we've embarked on a journey with no particular destination other than to trek the 24,901.55 miles/40,075 kilometers it takes to circumnavigate the globe. From Alaska to Abu Dhabi, Bundaberg to Birmingham, Kansas to Karumba, West Virginia to the Wop-Wops - we will run, walk, bike, hike, swim, skip, hop (and perhaps hobble) through lands of the ancient and the fantastic, the isolated and the rugged, the monumental and the sublime.
We've vowed to update our readers with legends, lore, wit and wisdom - and to account for number of miles/kilometers we've racked up. So, buckle-up, or in this case, unbuckle-up, because we've just reached our first destination some 1,300 miles northeast of Salt Lake City. Yes, we've sprinted into a charming, yet peculiar little town in Minnesota called Bemidji (pronounced
"be-mid-gee").
Bemidji is home to Northwest Technical College, Oak Hills Christian College and Bemidji State University, and has a population of roughly 13,000. But don't let the modest population fool you - this town is anything but. Statues of Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe, grace the downtown lakefront and stands as an homage to what this town really is - larger than life and an embodiment of frontier vitality. (By the way, the statue is a roadside attraction has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988.)
Bemidji is the most 'major' city in North Central Minnesota and the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth, MN. It sits on the southwest shore of Lake Bemidji, the northernmost lake feeding the Mississippi River and, as such, is deemed The First City on the Mississippi. And for anyone who likes to throw stones, or in this case slide them, it is also dubbed the Curling Capital of the U.S.
Both men's and women's rinks from the Bemidji Curling Club won the right to represent the United States in the 2005 World Curling Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Pete Fenson, the ‘skipper' of the U.S. curling team who took the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics, is a Bemidji native - something our own Accounting Wiz and Curling Enthusiast, Tim Smart, was thrilled to share with us.
More than curling, Bemidji is a city with a strong foothold in the arts. The city's streets are lined adorned with sculptures and other forms of public art, as well as eclectic shops. The Concordia Language Villages (just outside Bemidji) have also been influential in the creation of several language conversational groups (including French, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, and German) that meet weekly in local coffee houses. During the summer the Paul Bunyan Playhouse operates a non-equity, Summer Stock Theater. The town is also home to the 4th generation family-owned Bemidji Woolen Mills. Yes, you can get your Paul Bunyan lumber jack shirts right here and experience the versatility of "Wool, the Original Miracle Fiber."
Beyond that, the temperate hamlet (yes, temperate) boasts 78 degree temperatures in the summer with a mild 47% humidity. Don't ask about the winters; it's still Minnesota. (Though our own Ad Director and Head Idea Monger, Saralynn White, hails from Minnesota and she says the winters are not nearly as bad as they're reputed.)
For now, Bemidji is a great place to rest up while we map out our next adventure. Where we're going is anyone's guess - but we know Bemidji is a great place to locum. The people are great; the air is clean; and any town with a bigger-than-life-size statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe is A-number-1 in our book. Oh, and speaking of things that are bigger than life, Jane Russell (one of the most Iconic Movie Goddesses of all time) was born in Bemidji! Ms. Russell became famous for wearing the first underwire push-up bra invented by Howard Hughes. She's also a testament to the beauty found in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
On January 4, 2010, Dr. Kathryn Starkey and Molly Evans left Australia and headed for their 5th locum assignment, this time on the South Island of New Zealand. In a previous issue of Hemispheres, the ladies told of an upcoming trip to Margaret River - including a the possibility of a tree climb. We asked for an update, and we got it. Just prior to their departure for NZ, they sent this:
Dear All,
Before we head to New Zealand, we wanted to tell you about an area the Aussies call "our little secret." The Margaret River, in the southwest corner of Australia, is a beautiful, unspoiled world of history, nature and a spirit of all that is important in life...family, friends, food and wine. It features the Gloucester Tree, the highest working fire lookout in the world. Ignoring our age, we climbed its 153 rungs (actually reinforcement bars) to a height of a 20-story building (>200 feet) to the lookout platform. American litigators 
would have a heyday with this liability prone public amusement. Still in the climbing mood, we ventured to the coastline, driving through majestic Karri and Jarrah tree forests and climbed the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, built in 1885. It is Australia's tallest at 56 meters (184 feet) high - there are 186 steps - and still supplies a nightly safety beam of one million candlelight power via the 1000-watt halogen bulb and original prism glass. This overlooks the meeting of the Indian and Southern Oceans which clearly is visible in the water and can be seen over 25 nautical miles away.
Our last adventure (before enjoying the wine tasting and a lovely long lunch) was exploring a series of 100 underground caves along a coastal ridge. It was definitely a lost primeval world with crystalline beauty. Back on 
terra firma, we found the Brown Hill, Voyager, and Brookland Valley wineries - with fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blends, Shiraz and Chardonnay. You may not be able to find any wine from this region at home, but we recommend it highly!
As we do our final packing, we find it quite bittersweet. We have enjoyed living and meeting new friends in Western Australia.
Cheers, Kathy and Molly
Dr. Kathy Starkey, an OB/GYN, and her partner, Molly Evans, have wanderlust in their veins. Their locum adventures have taken them to New Zealand's North Island, the Caymans, Western Australia (twice) and now the Kiwi South Island. Watch here for more of Dr. Starkey and Molly's amazing tales about Down Under and beyond.
We hope the New Year finds you all happy and healthy!
My niece, Sabine, and her boys, Jacob and Johannes, were able to make the trip from Austria to New Zealand for the holidays. We met in Auckland and spent Christmas on The Bay of Plenty in a beach town called Ohope. Befitting sun and warmth not yet available in Southland, we took to the water in boats in the protected waters of Ohiwa Harbour. Most kayaking up north is of the sit-on-top variety, which always leaves me feeling as though I haven't really gotten in the boat. And those darn sit-on-tops seem even tippier in 50 km/hr winds and one metre seas.
While the rest of the family went out to swim with the dolphins, I spent the afternoon kayaking around Whale Island, a nature reserve 9 km offshore where we are not allowed to land. The trip was supported by a boat standing off in the distance. Lance, who skippered and owned Breaksea Girl, later serenaded us with his guitar while a campfire ushered in the New Year. Our position on the International Date Line meant we were the first on the planet to see it.
Ray, our landlord for the week, provided us with some pipis - small clams from the harbor that do not take up sand and so are ready for eating immediately without purging. My they were fresh and tasty! But it was a first for the kids. Johannes contemplated the first raw oyster on-the-half-shell of his life; Jacob seemed to enjoy it the most, though neither of them had a second
!
The New Year found us closer to home in Manapouri, a town 25 km from the way more popular Te Anau. These towns sit at the eastern edge of the Southern Alps and remind me of Jackson Hole [Wyoming], though wetter. The thinnest covering of green holds the place together. And what could be better in big sky country than a horse ride? The saddles here are English style - no horn to hang onto! And our mounts (Lippy and Ollie) were skittish of the 50 kph wind, so it was a rather more active ride than we expected - and came with the expected soreness that set in two days later!
We took the long way home from Manapouri. Having grown up 2 miles from Route 66, I have a soft spot in my heart for kitsch of the oversized variety, be it dinosaurs, tipis, ice cream cones or giant mosquitoes, so this surfing treasure on Colac Bay was a pleasant ending to our trip.
Best to you and yours,
Dr. Steve Vilter and family
Dr. Steven Vilter, a GP from Alaska, USA, is an avid biker, boater and one terrific correspondent. He and his wife have extended their locum tenens stay in New Zealand in order (among other things) to have access to the Southern Alps for the Summer.
It may be summer Down Under, but Aussies celebrate the season much like anyone who enjoys a white winter holiday, with a couple of notable exceptions - primarily an event called Carols by Candlelight.
It began one night in 1937 when an elderly woman was sitting alone in bed on Christmas Eve. Her only light was a candle, but it was enough to illuminate her expression as she sang "Away in a Manger" along with her radio. A passerby named Norman Banks was strolling along historic St. Kilda Road in Melbourne and caught sight of her. It made him wonder how many people spend the holiday alone, which inspired him to create the first public gathering of people to sing carols by candlelight. A pioneering radio broadcaster who'd just completed a late night shift, Banks' sight of the woman that night led him to create the most treasured Aussie tradition.
Historically, it's said that Cornish Miners in Moonta, South Australia, would gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols lit with candles stuck to the brims of their safety hats. Perhaps it was the early start of the Carols tradition, but it took one lonely woman in a window to inspire one man of action to spread the tradition.
The very next Christmas following Bates' inspiration, nearly 10,000 people congregated at Alexandra Gardens to sing carols with a choir and the Fire Brigade Band. Following World War II, Carols had become so popular that the event was moved to the neighboring park of King's Domain. The number of carolers grew and grew, so in 1959, the newly constructed Sidney Myer Music Bowl 
became a permanent venue for the gathering of over 30,000 people. Most towns across the OZ nation hold a Carols concert; over 100,000 people gather in Sydney, and many major Carols events are televised to millions of viewers - who sing along at home. Carols of the Domain, as it's called in Sydney, has also helped raise millions of dollars for the Salvation Army Oasis Appeal for Homeless Youth.
Beyond Carols, two other traditions Down Under are noteworthy: advertising is not permitted to be broadcast on television or radio on Christmas day, and get this: postage for Christmas cards cost less; senders are simply required to write "Christmas card only" on the envelope to get the lower-priced stamps. It has to be said: those are first-class holiday traditions.