Organized by TalentCorp Malaysia and LeadWomen Malaysia Sdn Bhd in partnership with Gender Action Lab, Australian Aid and UN Women, the UN Women 2022 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards commemorates those who have committed themselves to advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. These gender champions from different countries, sectors, and fields are acknowledged respectively for their outstanding Leadership Commitment, Youth Leadership, Gender-inclusive Workplace, Gender-responsive Marketplace, Community Engagement & Partnerships, and Transparency & Reporting.
*The UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards represents recognition of exemplary company efforts for gender equality and is limited to a designated category and a specific location and time period. Awarded organizations, alongside their products and services, receiving awards are not endorsed or affiliated with UN Women or WeEmpowerAsia and being recognized as an Awardee does not constitute a partnership. Claims, statements, or endorsements made by awardees are solely those of the individual or organization and do not represent official policies or positions of UN Women. – Source: Asia Pacific WEPs Awards
The Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of 7 Principles, for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.
Source: https://www.asiapacificwepsawards.org/.
They are grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Gender equality is more than just a moral responsibility. It is also great for business.
Jointly promulgated by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, there are now nearly 9,500 CEO-level signatories from across the globe.
The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a primary vehicle for corporate delivery on gender equality dimensions of the 2030 agenda and the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals. WEPs signatories therefore stand in solidarity with the United Nations to end gender inequality in the workplace, marketplace and community.
The UNWEPs Awards – Malaysia 2024 presentation ceremony is a Special Event that takes place right after the Gender Action Lab (GAL) Summit held in the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, 15 October 2024, supported by Australian Aid and UN Women. The GAL Summit and UNWEPs Awards form the presummit to the two-day LeadWomen Asia Pacific Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit: Rebalancing Humanity on 16 & 17 October 2024.
Family-friendly weekend of sporting fun and fitness activities for all abilities
Port Macquarie, an idyllic coastal city in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales four-hours north of Sydney welcomes the inaugural AFT International Sports Fitness Festival on November 4 and 5 at Panthers Port Macquarie, headlined by the Kyokushin Karate Port Macquarie Dojo’s Karate Kids on the Spectrum, gold medal winning swimmer and sport inclusion advocate Matt Levy OAM (NSW) and specialist pharmacist, health coach and podcaster, Theresa Loo(QLD) and more!
Presented in collaboration with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the festival promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in sports and fitness. A focus of this festival is its Sport Inclusion programmes for persons with disabilities and youth who are neurodiverse. Local Port Karate’s “Karate Kids on the Spectrum” programme which is inclusive of children who are neurodiverse will be showcasing a karate demonstration, meanwhile, the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf will have participants join in “walk virtually” along Port Macquarie’s famed coastal walk. Badminton Australia will facilitate a free demonstration, surfing enthusiasts are invited to Town Beach on Sunday morning to give it a go while swimming enthusiasts can hit the pool!
Members from the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf will join the Port Macquarie Walk-a-Hunt virtually (Photo via the Facebook of Richard Lee, at the Move8 Walk-a-Hunt in Bukit Bintang – Kuala Lumpur)Specialist pharmacist and health coach, Theresa Loo from Queensland is helming the Keynote on Health.
All are invited to join in for the fun and games scheduled over two days:
A 7KM Coastal Walk-a-Hunt with a virtual reality inclusive version so others can join in virtually.
A Sports Expo & Health Beauty Bazaar
Sports Inclusion Talks (live-streamed)
Health Talks & Workshops (live-streamed)
Youth in Sports Fest
Eat for Good Secret Supper
In a virtual launch webinar held on 24 August 2023 at the Sydney Community Hub in Haymarket, Mayor Peta Pinson shared, “We’re known for our beautiful coastline, our wonderful hinterland and the mountains, rivers, creeks, streams, and ocean which exist in every corner of our region. These are the reasons why people choose to come and live here.
“Many of our residents live fit, healthy and active lifestyles – irrespective of age – so the AFT International Sports Fitness Festival will be an important event on our community calendar, and I look forward to it,”.
Town Green promenade at twilight by Matt Gilligan
Festival producer, Jasmine Low said, “Australia is known as a sporting nation with its beautiful outdoors, its choiciest food produce and multicultural mix. Through my own lived experiences, I have found many sporting events were intimidating and not inclusive of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children with autism or persons with disabilities. As a result, we sought out to partner with partners like Port Macquarie to enhance access to their destination whether you’re an armchair traveller or there in-person,”. Jasmine is also a carer and together with her Malaysian counterpart and fitness coach Nikki Yeo, the best friends are worlds apart and yet have come together remotely to curate a hybrid festival to connect people remotely and in-person just as they have themselves.
“Science has proven that walking even for just 30mins a day can raise your heart rate. We hope to entice those who are already fit, to use their fitness and strength for good. Neighbour, colleague or friend, walk with someone and it will change you and them,” urged Yeo, a founding board member of Exercise is Medicine Society Malaysia.
We invite all people including those from non-English speaking backgrounds to come along with their families and try out sports and fitness activities. Sport can bring everyone together, making us stronger as a cohesive community.
Fit for Good
All activities are free aside from the AFT Health Workshop (A$30 per person) and Secret Supper (A$66 per person).
Companies are invited to take up the Corporate Pledge sponsorship package which aims bring co-workers together to have fun, keep fit and work together as a team to do good plus lunch together, in support of local businesses. The festival’s ‘Fit for Good’ and ‘Eat for Good’ call benefits charity partners like All Together Now, The Koala Hospital, Port Karate Dojo and other local businesses.
In a bid to make the festival environmentally friendly, organisers invite the general public to bring their recyclables to drop into a Return and Earn bin at Panthers Port Macquarie. All proceeds from the recycling will be pooled and distributed to support karate classes for children and support the community’s favourite endangered animal, injured koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Details:
Event title: AFT International Sports Fitness Festival @ Port Macquarie Date: November 4 & 5, 2023 Time: 7:00am – 4:00pm Venue: Panthers Port Macquarie, 1 Bay Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Cost: Free upon registration at www.sportsfitnessfestival.com/rsvp Email: info@sportsfitnessfestival.com
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (https://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/) oversees the one of the fastest growing urban centres in Australia. The Local Government Area covers 34 communities spread across the coast and hinterland, in urban, suburban and rural environments. With pristine coastal and hinterland environments, world class restaurants and a vibrant community, the Port Macquarie-Hastings region is incredibly diverse, with huge opportunities for growth and development.
All Together Now (www.alltogethernow.org.au) is a Harm Prevention charity acknowledging that racism is a form of abuse, with a mission to “Educate Australians About Racism”.
Port Karate’s Karate Kids on the Spectrum (www.portkarate.com), Kyokushin Karate classes that help children and adults with Autism or ADHD to break down boundaries.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital (https://koalahospital.org.au/), a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility, that has been helping rescue and rehabilitate koalas since 1973.The facility is run by Koala Conservation Australia Limited, a not-for-profit organisation that includes approximately 200 volunteers dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating koalas and conserving and restoring their natural habitats.
A Fitness Today (AFT) was founded in 2015 by two friends, a carer and her fitness coach. It has presence in Australia and Malaysia and produces digital content like videos, podcast interviews and feature articles on a wide range of topics related to sports, fitness and wellness. AFT strongly advocates for sports diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Website: www.afitnesstoday.com.
GIG: Go International Group Dotcom Pty Ltd. (www.gointernationalgroup.com) is an independent impact media production group is licensed to produce and represent the AFT International Sports Fitness Festival, AustraliaFitnessToday.com, AsiaFitnessToday.com and AFT Podcasts. The group is affiliated to Go International Group Dotcom Sdn Bhd. which was established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has been producing youth, sporting, and lifestyle events since 2005. The Move8 Walk-a-Hunt was first initiated in 2018 at the KL Car Free Morning co-organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Multigreen Events.
Why are we doing this?
A Fitness Today creates impact in communities by making sports and fitness more accessible to:
Imagine a world where sports and fitness are inclusive of all. The Move8 VR Walk-a-Hunt, a part of the AFT International Sports & Fitness Festival wants to foster Friendship, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sport, Fitness and Wellness.
Will you take up the challenge and see if you can solve the nuggets of clues left along the way? A 3-KM route awaits with clues planted along the streets of Sydney’s Chinatown, famed for delicious Yum Cha brunches, cream puffs, fruit and vegetable markets to curio, fashion and jewellery shops. Streets named Hay, Dixon, Sussex, Goulburn make up the boundaries of this 100-year-old gem of a district.
Companies are encouraged to sign up for the Corporate Pledge sponsorship package which aims to bring co-workers together to have fun, keep fit and work together as a team to do good. Register your group: https://www.sportsfitnessfestival.com/corporate.
We’re looking to sign on creative and innovative first movers to take on this experience, with many more to come! You will also be filmed so bring out your smile and largess. We’d love to welcome you!
A Fitness Today creates impact in communities by making sports and fitness more accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, newly arrived migrants and refugees, women and girls and people with a physical or mental disability.
Sydney, Australia, 25 August 2023 – Go International Group Dotcom, publisher of impact sports and fitness digital platform A Fitness Today (AFT), today announced the inaugural AFT International Sports Fitness Festival, nicknamed SpoFiFe, kicking off in three cities:
Bukit Bintang – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24 September,
Sydney Haymarket, NSW, Australia on 30 September,
Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia from 4-5 November 2023.
The sporting extravaganza aims to bring together over 100 hours of Sports, Fitness and Wellness experiences under one virtual roof across the region, partnering with city councils, tourism bodies, business retailers including small business vendors and community sporting groups with a focus on promoting racial harmony and promoting inclusion in sports.
A unique feature of this festival is its Sport Inclusion programmes for persons with disabilities and youth with neuro diversity. The festival fosters Friendship, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sport, Fitness and Wellness, while paying respects First Nations Aboriginal & Torres Straits Islander traditions.
Port Macquarie will be abuzz with activities this first weekend of November, including:
A 7KM walkathon with a virtual reality twist
A sports and fitness expo and a variety of activities
A health and beauty fair
Health talks and workshops led by experts in the field
Experiential activities for all ages, including a youth festival
A Eat for Good Secret Supper fundraiser featuring guest entertainers
The AFT International Sports & Fitness Festival presents an opportunity for all to get active, learn about healthy living, and have fun. We encourage everyone to participate in-person or virtually, as the events will be live-streamed from A Fitness Today’s YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@aft-tv/streams.
“We are excited to reveal the AFT International Sports Fitness Festival because the time is now for sports tourism events and we are so thankful to partners like Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the City of Sydney and the Network of Bukit Bintang Communities of Kuala Lumpur,” said Sydney-based event organiser Jasmine Low and Malaysian counterpart Nikki Yeo, who is also a founding board member of Society of Exercise is Medicine Malaysia.
“SpoFiFe is a great opportunity for people from all walks of lives to come together and enjoy sporting activities in a non-competitive and safe environment, try different or new things, use technology like VR to experience Port Macquarie, sign-on as a volunteer and simply take the opportunity to be fit for good, chimed the duo, co-founders of A Fitness Today (AFT) both speaking from having lived experience as carer and fitness coach.
Watersport enthusiast and advocate for a water sports centre in Bank Street for paddlers and local residents to access Sydney Harbour, Raymond Tai, also Chairman of the Darling Square Community Bank Branch – Bendigo Bank, a venue partner of the Sydney edition added, “The event provides a welcoming space especially for new arrivals to Australia to meet people from all backgrounds. Australia’s diversity is like none other, and we can’t wait to host you in-person or virtually.
Sign up and take part in the VR walk and hunt during the City of Sydney’s closure of Haymarket to traffic on 30th September. Come outdoors and learn something new about Sydney’s Chinatown and the MidSummer Lantern Festival,”.
The festival’s ‘Fit for Good’ and ‘Eat for Good’ call benefits non-profit partners like:
All Together Now (ATN) promotes racial harmony and racial equity in Australia and will be incorporating educational tools on the inclusion of people of culturally and linguistically different backgrounds.
The Mental Wheels Foundation, through its The Situp Challenge (raisely.com) beginning on 1st of September, wants to improve the mental and physical state of a person and make a difference for those in need within the community. It’s time to sit up as the issue of suicide won’t lay down.
The AOC’s message is “Have a Go” at any Olympic sport on June 23rd as a way of increasing everyone’s physical and mental health.
AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says with 44 Olympic sports available, there’s something for everyone.
“On Olympic Day, right around the world, people are encouraged to spend 30 minutes engaged in some form of physical exercise.
“We’d love to see Australians get moving by “Having a Go” at an Olympic sport. Take that time on Olympic Day with friends, colleagues or even by yourself to get moving for 30 minutes.
“Sport has significant physical and mental benefits for everyone, no matter your age or background. Everyone is different, so matching yourself to an Olympic sport makes it easy. For some, it might be getting back into a sport they love.
Australians can get involving in Have a Go on Olympic Day in three simple steps:
1) Choose an Olympic sport
2) Work out how you are going to #HaveAGo on Olympic Day 23 June
3) Share the content on social media on the day
Mr Carroll said starting with 30 minutes gives everyone the encouragement to build into an ongoing involvement.
“Having a Go is what Australians do. Not everyone is going to be an Olympian but everyone can have a go. Start on Olympic Day and keep it going through to July 23rd, which marks nine years to go until the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympic Games.
“Who knows, a child that has a go this Olympic Day might be competing for Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Games. For the rest of us, hopefully we will be healthier and happier.
Schools across the country will be hosting Have a Go events.
Following application from 114 schools who entered a draw, the following seven schools will receive a special Olympic Day visit from an Olympian. Congratulations;
Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo, ACT (Canberra)
Gordonvale State High School, Gordonvale, QLD (Cairns)
Campbell Street Primary School, Hobart, TAS (Hobart)
Notre Dame College, Shepparton, VIC (Shepparton)
Waddington Primary School, Koondoola, WA (Perth)
Sadleir Public School, Sadleir, NSW (Sydney)
Playford College, Elizabeth, SA (Adelaide)
Additionally, Australian Olympic Pathway School, Narrabeen Sports High School, North Narrabeen, NSW (Sydney) will also receive a visit, while Savannah Fitzpatrick (Tokyo 2020 – Hockey) returns to her old school, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School (NSW North Coast) for a special Olympic Day talk.
AFT RECOMMENDS the OA Organik series of videos, showcasing the Orang Asli (OA) or aboriginal / original people of Malaysia. The Malaysian Ministry of Education reported that 42.29% of OA students did not complete Form Five high school education. There’s so much that can be done for the OA community and this story highlights a project spearheaded a local non-profit organisation that has picked up the ASEAN The Struggles Of Education: The Extraordinary Effort Of Fazilah Apong To Complete School – OA Organik (wordpress.com)
In each video, you’ll listen to the authentic voices of the Orang Asli community in Malaysia, working as Organic Farmers in a unique collaboration with the Foundation for Community Studies and Development (FOCUSED), or YKPM in the Malay language, a registered nonprofit organisation that was founded on 22 September 1993. YKPM accepts tax-deductible donations and is a registered society – Society Reg. No.: 276769-D with the aim to empower left-behind communities, both rural and urban, by working alongside them.
On World’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day (9th August), a fairtrade community enterprise launched a series of video explainers to share how they partner with the Orang Asli (indigenous people) at Ulu Gumum and Melai of Malaysia. Through organic farming, OA Organik has helped lift many Orang Asli households from poverty and earn an income. The project aims to build a green economy and fight for climate justice. Learn more: https://www.ykpm.org.my.
Through organic farming, the Orang Asli (OA) are indirectly protecting Malaysia’s largest natural resource: the rainforest. With just RM1 million, the OA can set up a collection center and provide fair markets for 20 OA villages. This will improve livelihoods and empower them to conserve their forest.
Meet the Orang Asli – Organic Farmers and Guardians of the Forest – https://youtu.be/66uOAdU18Sw
OA Organik: Restoring Dignity
OA Organik: Forging Unity
OA Organik: Farm Nutrition
OA Organik: Forest Custodians
OA Voices 05: Forest Water – https://youtu.be/ORVsnaTgPT4
OA Voices 06: Forest Crafts – https://youtu.be/wLwHIzlpoDo
OA Voices 07: Forest Recreation – https://youtu.be/QZoxmewLybo
OA Voices 08: Forest Herbs – https://youtu.be/U0hW1ppj9uw
Learn more about OA Organik by visiting their website: www.oaorganic.com.my.
2 June 2023, Sydney – New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) is thrilled to unveil the fifth phase of its NZTE Made with Care campaign, as the demand for kiwi produce down under continues to soar. The global initiative aims to elevate New Zealand’s exceptional produce and highlight its reputation for great-tasting and ethically manufactured food and beverages. The continuation of the campaign signifies New Zealand’s commitment to crafting outstanding produce available to purchase in Australia and beyond.
The latest installation of the campaign will showcase 36 Aotearoa New Zealand brands, featuring both returning food and beverage favourites as well as exciting new additions. These include New Zealand’s only 100% farmer owned red meat co-operative, Lumina Lamb, health and wellness tonic brand, No Ugly, all-natural vodka soda company, Finery, and premium New Zealand honey from 1839 Ltd.
The NZTE Made with Care campaign reinforces the country’s values, which are rooted in Māori culture and are fundamental to the exceptional produce grown on its land. These values include Kaitiakitanga, which involves safeguarding and nurturing people, place, and planet for future generations; Manaakitanga, which emphasizes caring for others and demonstrating hospitality, kindness, and respect; and ingenuity, which involves challenging conventional norms with innovative and daring solutions. Australia Pacific Regional Director of NZTE, Glen Murphy, is thrilled with the campaign’s success thus far and its contribution to increasing the demand for New Zealand’s products in Australia. “The success of the NZ Made with Care campaign has been tremendous, and thus the decision to continue this initiative was effortless. We are thrilled to have new brands joining us for this fifth phase and will continue working with our partners to promote and increase awareness and demand for New Zealand’s exceptional and nourishing produce, which is grown and manufactured with integrity. It is evident that Australian consumers share our passion for supporting sustainable food and beverages and preserving and safeguarding our planet.”
Being one of Australia’s closest neighbours, New Zealand’s proximity provides easy access to a complete ecosystem of exceptional food and beverage products of global standards. With such a diverse and exceptional selection, Australian consumers have an abundance of choices when it comes to selecting premium New Zealand products.
Photos: supplied
New Zealand’s beverage industry
New Zealand’s beverage industry has established a worldwide reputation for producing top-quality and award-winning products, including beer, cider, spirits, natural juices, soft drinks, and sparkling water. Some of the best beverages to sample in Australia include the exquisite wines from Rockburn, Te Mata Estate, Summerhouse, Babich Wines, Palliser Estate and Te Whare Ra Wines. Those who relish in the sound of a can tab popping should go straight for New Zealand’s Zeffer Cider. For something a little “higher up the shelf”, new premium vodka soda brand Finery and Strange Nature Gin are worth a try. For those who prefer zero-alcohol beverages, have a wide range of options to choose from, including: Eden Orchards cherry juice, ŌKU NZ herbal tea and elixirs, Six Barrel Soda syrups, Giesen’s 0% alcohol wine, Nutrient Rescue’s life changing booster shots and new wellness tonic brand No Ugly.
Culinary Delights
New Zealand is proud to offer yet another impressive selection of culinary delights that not only benefit the planet but also enhance the lives of consumers. Healthy options (that don’t skimp on flavour) include Fix & Fogg nut spreads, Pacific Harvest edible seaweed, Rutherford & Meyer’s crackers and pastes, The Crafty Weka Bar good-for-you and nature bars, Justine’s Cookies, Pic’s Peanut Butter, trans fat-free Proper Crisps, Pure Delish muesli and cereal, Tom & Luke natural snack packs, Little Beauties freeze-dried fruit, Blue Frog and breakfast cereals, Juicies frozen apple pops, sustainably farmed NZ King Salmon and new addition premium New Zealand honey by 1839 Ltd.
Photo: supplied
Article extracted from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
Sarawak comes alive in June every year as the Dayak people celebrate Hari Gawai, a vibrant festival that gives thanks for a bountiful harvest. Over the years, Hari Gawai has become a larger cultural celebration of Dayak customs and traditions, in honour of their deep connection with the land.
Not only is it a lively celebration that holds great significance for the Dayak community, it also showcases Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage. A big part of Sarawak’s culture and heritage is food, so we talked about Sarawakian cuisine with Adeline Tang, a Sarawakian who’s in the food industry.
Like many Sarawakians, Tang is based in Klang Valley for work. About Hari Gawai, she said, “Every June is filled with nostalgia and an intense homesickness. I think this might be true for many other Sarawakians who live outside the state. But of course, being Malaysian, the one thing I miss most is authentic Sarawakian food.”
To Tang, there are four distinctive Sarawakian dishes that best represent the state. One dish that holds a special place in the Gawai festivities is Pansoh Ayam, also known as Manok Pansoh, a traditional Sarawakian delicacy cooked in bamboo. The dish involves cooking chicken in a freshly cut bamboo stalk along with aromatics like onions, ginger, lemongrass, garlic, torched ginger flower, and galangal. The bamboo is roasted over an open fire, infusing the chicken with a distinctive flavour.
As the preparation of Pansoh Ayam takes a considerable amount of time, expertise, preparation, and the right space for building a fire, a proper Pansoh Ayam is difficult for most in concrete jungles like Klang Valley to achieve at home.
Another dish that’s unique to the state is the Sarawak Laksa, which has origins dating back to the 20th century. The creation of this noodle soup remains mysterious – it is believed to be developed by Chinese immigrants in Sarawak and was popularised by the Tan family in the ’60s and ’70s with their development of the Swallow brand laksa paste.
Photo: supplied
This laksa is popular for having complex flavours and stands out from similar dishes such as the curry laksa and asam laksa with its use of the sambal belacan, a pounded chilli paste made with fermented shrimp paste, which lends the dish a great depth of flavour. Depending on who you ask, the most authentic Sarawak laksa paste has a vibrant orange hue and contains between 20-36 (or more!) ingredients including garlic, shallots, chillies, candlenut, and dried shrimp.
Topped with shredded chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, and slices of omelette, the hallmark of the Sarawak laksa is its thick and creamy soup. As with all laksas, the laksa paste is the most important component to getting the taste right. However, as Tang explained, an authentic Sarawak laksa paste can be quite rare to find. “Sarawak laksa paste involves many ingredients, so it can be more difficult than you expect to get the taste right if you made it yourself. You could sometimes find Sarawak laksa paste here, but it doesn’t always capture the authentic taste,” she said.
Ka Chan Ma (Motherwort Herb Chicken Soup) Photo: supplied
Ka Chan Ma (Motherwort Herb Chicken Soup) is also another dish that is unique to Sarawak. The chicken soup dish features the motherwort herb, which grows indigenously in the state and has been used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. As Tang shared, “Ka Chan Ma is an acquired taste because the motherwort can be quite bitter. But over the years, I’ve found an appreciation for the complex, bitter yet floral flavour, as well as its health benefits.”
The herb is believed to aid in mood regulation and reducing anxiety. As the dish is made with motherwort along with ginger, wine, and other spices, it is also believed to be good at relieving gas and improving blood circulation. For these reasons, the nourishing chicken soup is often used as confinement food, but it is also popular among the masses for its unique flavour and as a highly nutritious dish with great health benefits.
Tang also looks back fondly on Ding Pian Ho (鼎边糊), another unique Sarawakian dish. This Foochow dish’s name roughly translates to “wok edge paste” which refers to the way the noodles are made. A flour slurry is poured around the sides of a wok with soup. When the noodles are cooked, it is scraped back into the wok while some of the slurry has cooked in the soup. The result is a cross between flat rice noodles and congee.
For many Sarawakians who have grown up watching hawkers scraping woks to make a bowl of Ding Pian Ho, it might seem a mundane thing. Tang shared that she remembers watching the hawker make these noodles with much fascination – without a doubt, it is certainly one of the most interesting ways of making a flat noodle.
On Hari Gawai this year, Tang commiserates with fellow Sarawakians about missing the taste of home. In her food business, Freshable, Tang was inspired by her roots and her longing for authentic food from Sarawak and featured her home state’s cuisine in a monthly special this June.
“I felt that Hari Gawai was the best occasion to put a spotlight on Sarawakian cuisine. There’s so much to be said about how unique our food is, but I would rather put a bowl of Sarawak laksa in front of someone and let them experience it themselves,” she added.
As for Sarawakians who find themselves homesick this June like Tang, “There’s so much comfort that a hot bowl of food from home brings me. I hope to share with fellow Sarawakians the taste of home while away from home.”
Tang is the co-founder of Freshable, an innovative meal kit delivery service that sends meal kits of curated cuisines right to your doorstep. The idea is that subscribers pick a dish of choice, and Freshable sends out meal kits which consist of pre-cut and measured ingredients for the recipe to you.
This month’s Sarawak menu features locally-sourced ingredients from Sarawak and adapted recipes for home cooking. She added that she aims to bring Sarawak’s best dishes to doorsteps in Klang Valley.
“When I first started out with my business, it was driven by my passion for food. And the Sarawakian food I grew up with and learned to love was a big part of that. As I pay homage to my roots by featuring my favourites in this month’s special, I think things have come full circle,” she said.
Whether you are new to Sarawakian cuisine, or you’re homesick and long for a taste of home, get your taste of Sarawak now on Freshable’s website at https://freshable.co/ and follow them on social media at Instagram and Facebook.
Dr. Matthew Phillips is a full-time clinical and research neurologist at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand. His foremost passion is to explore the potential feasibility, safety, and efficacy of metabolic therapies, particularly fasting and ketogenic diets, in creating alternate metabolic states that enhance neuron bioenergetics and may lead to improvements in not only the symptoms, but also function and quality of life, for people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and a variety of additional neurological disorders.
Upon completing his Neurology training in Melbourne, Dr. Phillips realised that he had no interest in going the usual route of further specialising in a particular neurological disorder. He wanted to specialise in a therapy, but no such fellowship existed. Thus, he bought a one-way ticket to the other side of the world and departed the medical system, travelling and working in different places for three years, creating his own self-taught fellowship during which he learned about a variety of therapeutic possibilities that he had never previously considered.
Upon completing his 3-year “fellowship” it dawned on him that metabolic strategies, particularly fasting and ketogenic diets, were promising therapeutic options for a range of disorders. He re-entered the medical system by commencing work as a neurologist in New Zealand, where his colleagues have helped him to apply these strategies to a number of humanity’s most difficult neurological disorders so as to determine whether they are feasible, safe, and can make an impact in terms of helping patients. This has resulted in his team conducting a world-first randomised controlled study of a ketogenic diet in Parkinson’s.
The Canadian-born, Australian-trained neurologist ultimately wishes to help create a new field of Metabolic Neurology that emphasises applying metabolic strategies in healthcare so as to potentially heal many difficult disorders at their core, with the overarching goal being the improved health and enhanced nobility of humanity.
Please consider supporting Low Carb Down Under via Patreon. A small monthly contribution will assist in the costs of filming and editing these presentations and will allow us to keep producing high quality content free from advertising. For further information visit; https://www.patreon.com/lowcarbdownunder
Record attendance at Australia’s second DreamHack festival in Melbourne for a weekend of gaming, esports & more
The April 28-30th 2023 weekend saw Australia’s biggest gaming, esports, and lifestyle festival, DreamHack Melbourne, return to Melbourne & Olympic Parks with a total of 25,851 passionate fans in attendance across three days (up from 21,000 in 2022). Attendees were treated to a smörgåsbord of activities, including a sold-out Bring-Your-Own-Computer LAN party with $40,000 in prizes, a $16,000 Cosplay Competition, live music performances, an artist alley, the latest tech & games at the DreamHack expo, content creator meet & greets, and educational panels.
Esports fans were treated to a spectacle across two stages in Margaret Court Arena, as Movistar Riders took out the top spot in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ESL Challenger tournament, while The Chiefs scored the win in the League of Legends Circuit Oceania Finals, with over $200,000 awarded in prize money across the weekend. Aspiring professional gamers competed in the Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) LAN competition across VALORANT, Fortnite, Rocket League, CS:GO, Age of Empires and more.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos attended the opening ceremony of DreamHack Melbourne 2023 at Rod Laver Arena to welcome competitors, spectators and visitors of all ages to Melbourne.
“DreamHack’s return to Melbourne was a roaring success. The diverse range of content at this year’s festival resonated with fans, which resulted in record ticket sales & attendance – the highest we’ve ever seen in Australia.”
Nick Vanzetti, MD & SVP at ESL FACEIT Group Asia-Pacific Japan.
“We’re incredibly proud of how DreamHack Melbourne has evolved this year, bringing together a diverse range of fans to experience the incredible atmosphere of DreamHack.” said Christoffer Melin, Director DreamHack Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “It was an honor to be a part of this vibrant celebration, where the passion and energy of our community took centre stage.”
DreamHack Melbourne tournament results:
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (ESL Challenger)
1st: Movistar Riders (Spain) – $50,000 USD
2nd: Bad News Eagles (Kosovo) – $20,000 USD
3-4th: Grayhound.Rivalry (ANZ) – $10,000 USD
3-4th: Ecstatic (Denmark) – $10,000 USD
League of Legends (League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO) Finals)
1st: The Chiefs (ANZ) – $15,000 USD 2nd: Team Bliss (ANZ) – $10,000 USD
