Boxing Day Test
Every year there seems to be no greater sporting day in the nation's calender than this fixture. Many rural Australians make their way to the Melbourne Cricket Ground from all over Australia to attend this astonishing national sporting iconic occasion. I recall my muffler man in Moruya who journeyed to Melbourne after family festivities on Christmas Day and there he sat for the following five days. His experience was no singular occurrence.
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is not only an Australian event, it is an international passion with yachties travelling from around the world to participate. One would be hard pressed to find an Australian who does not take some interest in this majestic event of spinnakers and sails as the racing fleet heads off after the historic gun and as they yachts make their down the NSW and Victorians coasts and across Bass Straight and finally up the Derwent River.
Australian Tennis
Tennis and Australia are synonymous. Since the 1930's Australians have been mainstays in world tennis rankings. The Grand Slam Tournaments were dominated by Australians, men and women, and when the international circuit came to the land 'down under' it was always after Christmas culminating in the Australian Open at the end of January.
Surfing
Not unlike tennis, surfing likewise is a well established summer sport and the professional international tournaments seem to centre around the initial major event of the professional international circuit, that of the Roxy Pro held at Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast on the first weekend of February.
Professional Rodeo
Although the professional rodeo circuit runs all year round, the Australian circuit sees the post Christmas new year as a fresh start for the rookies and herein lies the Australian Professional Rodeo success at this level and its national television growth has illustrated how important this is to the sport. Professional summer schools such as for bull riders are critical to the long term viability of this sport.
Swimming and Diving head for Olympic trials
2012 in an Olympic year and no doubt everyone of us will hear of news casts of the swimming and diving contingents vying for an Olympic berth and notoriety. These are national sports, and a recent survey placed our top swimmers as the second highest 'sporting identity recognition' (behind cricket) in the nation – higher than AFL and NRL players.
Many Sporting Codes
After Christmas the football codes start to get serious. The Super 16 Rugby boys get under way. The NRL and AFL start their trail games mostly in rural centres and the A League soccer is in full flight. January is huge for Australian sport with cricket being the major focus of the media.
Just think of Golf, Motor Racing, Racing Bikes, Basketball, Netball, Hockey, Track and Field, Rowing .. you name it, Christmas kicks off a wonderful exciting year of sporting endeavour.
Applies to many things
This Christmas and the New Year sentiment applies to other things as well. Our congregation members were invited to include a Christmas greeting in the local church bulletin. This was ours (my wife Delma and mine):
"Mark and Delma extend Christmas and New Year greetings. Jesus' birth and a new year's fresh start seem such ideal companions."
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html