Match fixing: Police quiz Australian players and coaches

Victoria Police detectives questioned local tennis figures last week about which matches could be fixed in the first round of the Australian Open, only days before an explosive report was released that threatened to expose festering corruption in the sport.

Fairfax Media can reveal that current and former professional players and coaches believe match-fixing is rife in the sport, with an Australian professional who has been ranked in the top 70 telling a coach he was approached weekly by crime figures asking him to throw matches.

One former player says authorities have been complicit in the corruption, by failing to train junior players about the perils of match-fixing; giving former players little impetus to report corruption, as it could lessen their chances of a career in the sport after they retire; and not doing enough to prevent suspected fixers entering locker rooms, where they can prey on vulnerable, lowly-ranked players.

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David Bowie musician who marked the epoch

British music legend David Bowie, has died at 69 years, 18 months after he was diagnosed with cancer.

On his official website Facebook and Twitter on Monday it was announced that "David Bowie died on Monday in peace surrounded by family members after the 18-month courageous battle against cancer."

Bowie, born David Robert Jones, author of the 25 albums, and appeared in a few films. His last studio album, "Black star" was released on January 8 this year on his 69th birthday.

He was known for his artful fusion music, as well as by a number of alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke.

After the release of their first hit, "Space Oddity" in 1969, Bowie has gained international fame with albums like "Hunky Dory" and "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."

Australia Day Lamb 2016 | Commence Operation Boomerang

 

Watch as Lee Lin Chin and Lambassador Sam Kekovich embark on ‘Operation Boomerang’ – their mission to save Australians abroad from going without the essential lamb barbecue on Australia Day.

Operation Boomerang is the brainchild of commander Lee Lin Chin. Having spent Australia Day 1996 in Warsaw, without ‘a char grilled chop in sight’, she vowed to ‘never let that happen to another Australian again’.

See her army save as many overseas Aussies as possible from a lambless Australia Day. Because you never lamb alone on Australia Day.

We love our lamb.