CUANZ Australia and New Zealand Society

We've gathered answers to some questions that those from our part of the world might well ask when they've recently arrived in the UK. Corrections and additions welcome!

Food and Grog

Where can I get Vegemite?

You can buy small jars of black gold in either of the Sainsburys.

How well do Tim Tams survive being air-mailed to Cambridge?

Very nicely. For a poor local substitute, try McVities Penguin Biscuits.

Where can I buy Milo and/or Tim Tams?

Apparently Sainsbury's in town is currently stocking Milo. Similarly both TESCO on Newmarket Road, and the TESCO superstore at Bar Hill stock a variety of different Tim Tams types (no more closing your eyes and pretending that Penguin biscuits even come close!)

Where can I get Australian/New Zealand beer?

You can find some brands (Fosters, XXXX, etc) in supermarkets, off-licenses and quite a few pubs. Be warned though, that these are usually brewed in the UK "under license", and aren't quite the same as what you get in Oz. Check the label.

The Jug and Firkin in Mill Road often has 375ml bottles of Coopers Pale Ale, Sparkling and Stout as well as the odd six pack of James Boag. They've even been known to stock DB Export Gold.

In addition, sometimes the various wine shops do special features on Aussie beer, when you can be lucky enough to find nice things like Redback and Coopers. For VB lovers, visit Bottoms Up on Bridge Street for your favourite brew. Also 'Bacchanalia' (90 Mill Road, AKA the 'Jug and Firkin' ) also stocks small quantities of VB.

A tip for Australian food -

We have in the past recommended Aunty Sue's in London but we've had recent reports that their service has been seemingly nonexistent although they have no trouble charging you (without necessarily sending you the goods, if you know what I mean).

Vogels!

You can often get a variety of Vogels breads (baked in the UK but still good) from Budgens stores.

News from Home

Where can I read Australian/New Zealand news?

Buying real Australian/New Zealand newspapers in the UK costs a fortune. Luckily, you can find most Oz/NZ media on-line. Our links page has an extensive list.

TNT Magazine, a weekly mag for Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans living in the UK, can also be found on-line. TNT Mag provides information about what is in the news back home, as well as giving a comprehensive guide of entertainment happening around the UK. It is especially useful for information regarding Australian artists and musicians touring the UK. Unfortunately, the website contains only small snippets of the actual magazine. It is possible to subscribe to this magazine over the web. It costs £33/6months or £60/year.

Also floating around London are free publications such as New Zealand News UK. Check out South2North a news and information website devoted to making the migration north easier for Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans.

Elections

Must I vote in Australian elections whilst overseas?

Voting is not compulsory, but read the fine print. It is encouraged but not compulsory to vote if you are overseas at the time of an Australian federal election or referendum, or overseas or interstate at the time of a state election. There is a catch, however. If you are registered to vote, but are not registered as an Overseas Elector (see below), the Federal/State electoral body will not know you are overseas, and if you do not vote they will post a letter to your home address in Australia (but you are not fined at this stage). You (or someone who knows what's going on) must reply saying you were overseas. You may then be struck off the roll, which would preclude you from voting in subsequent elections and referenda until you re-enrol. Refer to the AEC web page, Paragraphs 11-13, for details.

If you are registered as an Overseas Elector but don't vote, you should not hear from anyone, no-one will get any letters, and you will not be struck off the roll. Registering as an Overseas Elector. This is actually what we all should have done, apparently. You can only do this in the three months before departing Australia or the 12 months after leaving. I guess that means if you've been back in the last 12 months you can still do it. If you want to do it, ready for future elections and referenda, visit the web page. If you are not presently on the roll and want to register for the next election or referendum, you can do so from overseas as long as you've been back to Australia in the last two years.A pdf is available for this.

How do I go about voting in New Zealand elections?

Visit the New Zealand Government's Election web site. It'll tell you all you need to know.

How do I go about voting in Australian elections?

You can either take a day-trip to London and go to Australia House on The Strand, or get them to post you out the forms: (be sure to organise this a month or so before the election, however!). For full details see the Australian Electoral Commission site, or ring the Australian Electoral Enquiry Line at Australia House in London on (0171) 8875420.

Am I allowed to vote in British or EU elections?

Yes. Electoral enrolment forms are sent to households fairly regularly, but if you want to put yourself on the Roll, contact the Electoral Registration Officer at The Guildhall, Cambridge CB2 1BR.

Visas

For which European countries do I need a visa?

Visa requirements change constantly. For up to date information, the best source (for Australians) is the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Visa requirements for New Zealanders are likely to be similar, check in Lonely Planet and phone the relevant embassy just to be sure.

I heard something about increased visa fees?

http;//www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=1066

Phoning Home

What's the cheapest way to make phonecalls to Australia / New Zealand?

People have reported 1p/min calls to Australia/NZ through www.telediscount.co.uk.

Phone cards such as Chit Chat cards provide some of the best deals (this one in particular can be used from any phone: BT, ntl or phonebox). For example, for £20 you can buy a card containing £25 worth of calls and the call rate is (depending on which one you buy) 4-6 p/min. There are all sorts of cards available so shop around – be warned that some have a connection charge for each call.

One.Tel, an Australian company, has recently dropped phone rates from the UK to Australia to 4p/min (incl. VAT) and to NZ to 4p/min. Also to the USA is 3p/min, France/Germany is 4/3p/min... You can only register your home phone to use the service, not a University or work extension, and you can't use it from pay phones. Calls are billed per minute or part thereof. You are billed monthly for the calls you've made. There are no joining or monthly fees or rent. The number to call for queries or to set up an account is 0800 092 1878.

"Let's Talk" sells a phone card giving 5p/min (4p/min if you buy the £20 card) to Australia or the USA, if you call from a private BT phone. From a non-BT phone you have to dial an 0800 number and are charged 10p/min, or dial a London number to get the 5p/min rate. London calls are 3 or 4p/min.

Posting

What's the cheapest way to get things home?

Royal Mail have a booklet that explains the different services available. In general the cheapest way to send packages is by surface mail. It can take up to 3 months and you may have to convince them that you really do want to send it that way! Alternatively, parcels up to 2 kg can be sent fairly economically as 'Small Packets' (they must be marked as such and have a customs declaration attached). Printed materials can be sent at a special rate but must not include more than 5 words of personal correspondence.

If you're trying to get presents home consider ordering from a supplier at home over the internet. You get better value because of the exchange rate and you can get away with forgetting until the last minute! For New Zealand I've used The Pantry Shop and Designer Gift Baskets both of who have provided an excellent service and produced superb gifts delivered on time (or early) for very reasonable prices.

Other Cambridge Contacts

Australasian Link-Up

This is a Cambridge-based email discussion list that welcomes postings about any matter of relevance to the Australasian region. The list aims to inform Cambridge students from the Australasian region about developments (political, cultural, or any other kind) taking place in their home countries, informing people 'back home' about offshore developments and matters relevant to the Australasian region, and generally encouraging international debate and contact on matters relevant to the Australasian region. The list has been running since late 1997, and has about 100 members in over 10 countries. This is not a moderated list. However, all members need to be aware that there is a non-negotiable ground rule for participation in the discussion. That rule prohibits any posting that contains racial, sexual or any other form of vilification, personal insults, or defamatory imputations.

If you would like to participate in Australasian Link-Up, please contact one of the list organisers; Michael Norrish, or James Campbell.