Some years ago, I received a very unusual (but very beautiful) card from a gentle friend in West Australia. It pictured a mother kangaroo guarding her baby in a manger, capturing something of the essence of Christmas in an authentic Australian setting.

New Zealand’s prime minister said today hope was fading for 29 coal miners missing for four days underground after an explosion.

SHANE CRAWFORD, captain of the Australian team which is close to making history against Ireland in the second test in the International Rules Series in Melbourne tomorrow, is almost afraid to think of what it will be like to win.

The minister responsible for road safety and transport in Western Australia has lost her driver’s licence for speeding and it was disclosed today the disqualification is her second since 1994.