Virgin Mobile launches Surprise Gig Tour with Wolfmother, MGMT and others

To celebrate its Surprise Gig bonus data offer, Virgin Mobile has announced the Surprise Gig Tour - a series of free, last-minute music gigs around Australia to be announced via its Members' Lounge Facebook page.

Pop Life

CHIKO'S NEXT ROLL MODEL Remember that scantily clad patron saint of fish and chip shops who could straddle a motorbike and down a Chiko Roll at the same time? Well, now you too can join the fascinating Chiko Chick tradition. The deep-fried roll merchants are searching for their next ambassador, or rather, a "hot and tasty roll model", to spruik its battered wares. Auditions will be held over three weekends with the six finalists then flown to "Chiko Chick House" at Bells Beach, where the winner ...

Teen Goes For Baroque In Eisteddfod Performance

WHEN you think 15-year-old boys and their passions, things like football, video games and 15-year-old girls normally spring to mind.

Maddison Making All The Right Moves

KIAMA'S Robbie Maddison is one man not afraid to jump off a motorbike at high speed.

Olympians Dream On

Will the gold rush in Athens be followed by a free car bonanza for successful Games competitors? Tim Colquhoun launches a Probe.

Planet X Launches Australians Into Orbit

Australians have dominated the Planet X Summer Games held at Sydney Olympic Park after Tas Pappas and Tim ``Dorfus`' MacDougall upset eminent American skateboarder Steve Caballero in the skateboard vert (halfpipe) and skateboard street events respectively. More than 500 contestants from 11 countries competed for $150,000 in prizemoney during the four-day competition, which attracted 40,000 fans at the weekend alone. The week started with skysurfing demonstrations and wakeboarding competitions, the latter wo

Born To 'fly - Team Smales Is All Smiles Before Final Fling

Paralympian Alastair Smales is by no means confined to his wheelchair. He drives a car, flies a plane, works as an air traffic controller and has not given up on riding a motorbike. Sadly, one thing Smales, 38, a father of two and medal prospect in swimming at the Sydney Paralympic Games, will ne

Petty Back From Rep Duties For Cup Clash

NSW Country representative Rod Petty has been rushed straight back into Tech Waratahs' starting line-up for this afternoon's Prime Cup battle with Campbelltown at Saunders Oval. The representative season forced Petty out of nine club games but TechTahs haven't skipped a beat in his absence, losin

Crash Dash

CRASH BANDICOOT 3: WARPED Runs on: PlayStation Category: Action/Platform Players: 1 Publisher: Naughty Dog/Universal Interactive Distributor: Sony Classification: G Rating: CRASH Bandicoot may not have attracted half the slobbery hype of Ms Lara Croft, but his first two PlayStation games ha

Heather Turland Home With The Gold

Heather Turland, of Bowral, recently returned home to a hero's welcome after her gold medal-winning marathon run at the Commonwealth Games. The athlete is now preparing for the 2000 Olympics, reports DAVID ILIFFE. It's the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and in just a few tension-filled

Minister Hits Back At Women In Boxing Claim

Federal Sports Minister Jackie Kelly yesterday defended her claim that female boxing was no worse than BMX riding or motorbike racing. Miss Kelly, who was appointed to the ministry last weekend, was criticised by Health Minister Michael Wooldridge and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for

Mum's Feat Ends In Son's Arms

kuala Lumpur It will be one of the abiding images of the 16th Commonwealth Games. Having battled the heat, the humidity and, over 42 kilometres, the competition in Kuala Lumpur, Heather Turland triumphantly crossed the finishing line in the women's marathon, walked over and fell into the arms of

The Mother Of All Marathons, But Last 42km Weren't So Bad

It will be one of the abiding images of the 16th Commonwealth Games. Having successfully battled the heat, the humidity and, after 42 kilometres, the competition in Kuala Lumpur, Heather Turland triumphantly crossed the finishing line in the women's marathon, walked over and fell into the arms of

Mako My Day

An epic and distinctly Japanese role-playing adventure title is keeping players pinned to the PlayStation and PC. Stuart Clarke reports. SQUARESOFT caused a major commotion in the games industry a few years ago by switching allegiance from its old partner, Nintendo, to a new rival, Sony. At the t

Battle Of Wounded Knee

After just 15 senior AFL games . . . and three knee reconstructions . . . Linda Pearce finds out why the Magpies are still so keen to keep Lee Walker. CONSIDERING that the branches of his family tree have long groaned under the weight of career-ending knee injuries, Lee Walker is often asked why

Bikie 'guides' Put Tourists In Danger

The Department of Transport will look into claims that bikie gang members are infiltrating the motorcycle tours market and that tourists are being taken on 140km/h joy rides of Sydney after a report from an industry whistleblower. With Sydney's motorbike joy ride market ready to enjoy a boom in t

Boys' Games Distracting Premier, Says Button

Canberra Mr Jeff Kennett is the best Premier in Australia in presentation and style - but he is giving Victorians "boys' games" rather than tackling the big issues facing the state, Labor's former Federal Industry Minister, Mr John Button, said yesterday. Launching his second book,

Why I No Longer Hate Manly

JOKE: A St George supporter who had sea son tickets to the club's home games suddenly attends away matches. He buys a beanie, scarf and jumper in St George colours. Soon, he is watching training sessions at Kogarah Oval. Finally, his exasperated wife says, "You love St George more than you l

(spending Up For '98 Games)

Spending up for '98 Games. Malaysia's National Sports Council has allocated an extra $21.6million to prepare athletes and facilities for three team events being contested for the first time at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Malaysia, the 1998 Games host, plans to spend $88.5million over five yea

Real Athletes Don't Want To Be Patronised

Jeff Wiseman won a little wager at an athletics carnival a few years ago. He came closest to guessing how many patronising cliches the well-meaning politician showered on the assembled throng at the opening of the national games for the disabled. The seasoned wheelchair racer from D