Category Archives: Oceania

Robb Report

Circumnavigate the World in Style with Oceania Cruises' 180-Day ... Robb Report The Golden Age of travel gleams once again with Oceania Cruises' Around the World voyage in January of 2019. The 180-day global getaway promises high ... and more »

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Circumnavigate the World in Style with Oceania Cruises' 180-Day ... - Robb Report

Oceania Cruises and Canyon Ranch are launching a new tour series, Wellness Tours Inspired by Canyon Ranch.

Building on Oceanias existing partnership with the Canyon Ranch, which places the wellness brands Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea facilities onboard Oceanias cruise ships, the new tour series will debut with Oceania Rivieras and Oceania Marinas April 9 and April 10, 2017, sailings. Tours will initially be offered in France, Spain, Italy, and Greece.

Billed as a complete wellness getaway at sea, guests on each tour will begin their day with healthy Canyon Ranch breakfast options in the Grand Dining Room, such as a three egg-white omelet with seasonal vegetables and cheese. Next comes a wellness tour in Taormina, Sicily, including a yoga class. Back on board, guests might round out the day with a treatment at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, such as a soothing Canyon Stone Massage or a detoxifying Seaweed Leaf Wrap. Come dinnertime, guests can enjoy healthy Canyon Ranch selections in the Grand Dining Room, such as the steamed Maine lobster atop savory Castilla-La Mancha saffron rice followed by warm, fragrant chocolate cake.

With the debut of the new wellness tour series, Oceania Cruises is also offering Canyon Ranch wellness specials, pairing select Canyon Ranch SpaClub treatments with the new tours, offering guests savings. Reservations for Wellness Tours Inspired by Canyon Ranch will open on April 1, 2017.

Here are some of the highlights of the new wellness tours:

The Popes Thermal Baths | Civitavecchia, Italy Guests will enjoy an afternoon of heavenly relaxation and restorative benefits at the Viterbo Terme dei Papi, or the Thermal Baths of the Popes. Originating in Etruscan times, the exclusive baths have a thousand-year-old therapeutic tradition that has served kings, popes and artists throughout history.

Vinyasa Yoga at Monte Carlo Bay | Monte Carlo, Monaco Perched on a beautiful peninsula overlooking the Mediterranean, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort offers guests a private vinyasa yoga class, a dynamic style of yoga recognized for a host of mind-body benefits.

The Greek Gods of Wellness | Corfu, Greece Guests will have the chance to tour the vineyard and herb plantation of Ambelonas, an artisanal organic goods company and wine estate in Greece, followed by a tranquil meditation and yoga session and a plant-based lunch.

The Life of Laughter | Palamos, Spain This tour invites guests to discover the myriad benefits of laughter, including the rush of stress-reducing endorphins released as they enjoy a joyful laughter session in a restored farmhouse-hotel in the heart of Costa Brava.

Visit http://www.oceaniacruises.com

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Oceania to Launch Wellness Tours With Canyon Ranch - Travel Agent

Jiane Castro, rcastro@guampdn.com 6:30 p.m. ChT March 14, 2017

The nine members sent to represent Guam are pictured with their coaches Tony Aquino (far-right) and Mariano Aquino (far-left) after competing in the 2017 Oceania Wrestling Championships this March in Tahiti. All members medaled in their respective divisions. (Photo: Courtesy of Guam Amateur Wrestli)

Nine wrestlers sent, nine medals won.

It was a heavy haul for Guam's wrestlers at the 2017 Oceania Wrestling Championships held over the weekend in Pirae, Tahiti.

"Congratulations to Team Guam," said Tony I. Aquino, president of the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation. "Five women, four men, and all medaled."

The contest was held at the Institute of Youth and Sports of French Polynesia in Pirae, Tahiti. Nine Pacific nations sent 111 wrestlers to the competition, including teams from Palau, Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa.

The team's coaches, brothers Tony and Mariano Aquino, come from a family of longtime champions in judo and wrestling. In 1988, Mariano Aquino was Guam's youngest team member at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Tony Aquino,who grew up doing judo on Guam and Japan, isthe president of the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation, and has been head coachof the Simon Sanchez wrestling team for the last six years. He has coached both freestyleand Greco-Roman for men and women

Among the gold medalists for Guam are Tony Aquino's daughtersMia Lahnee and RckaelaAquino,also members of the Simon Sanchez girls wrestling team, which has won four straight Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guamchampionships. Mia-Lahnee Aquino, and others on the team, are Olympic hopefuls.

Women:

Freestyle Cadet Division: 43kg - Tatiana Ananich (gold),49kg - Samantha Torres (gold),52kg - Adhara Balansay (gold)

Freestyle Junior Division: 48kg - Samantha Torres (silver),51kg - Adhara Balansay (gold),55kg - Mia Lahnee Aquino (gold),59kg - Rckaela Aquino (gold)

Freestyle Senior Division: 55kg - Mia Lahnee Aquino (gold), 58kg - Rckaela Aquino (silver)

Men:

Freestyle Cadet Division:69kg - Paul Aguon (silver)

Freestyle Junior Division: 66kg - Paul Aguon (gold)

Freestyle Senior Division:61kg - Drake Torres (bronze), 65kg - Ethan Aguigui (bronze),74kg - John Rojas (bronze)

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Team Guam wrestlers all medal at Oceania Championships - Pacific Daily News

SAM HEWAT

Last updated15:04, March 13 2017

SAM HEWAT/FAIRFAX NZ

Charles Spragg, 17, picked up the golden boot and golden ball award at the OFC U17 Football Championship in Tahiti.

Charles Spragg could become a household name in New Zealand football.

The 17-year-old Meadowbank resident recently returned from the U17 Oceania Football Confederation Championship in Tahiti where his New Zealand side picked up the top prize and qualification to the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup in India.

Spragg was a standout player, finishing as the tournament's leading goal scorer with seven, and picking up the golden ball as the tournament's most valuable player.

Despite his obvious talent, Spragg, who attends St Kentigerns College and plays club football for Western Springs, said performing that well in the Oceania tournament was a surprise.

READ MORE: *NZ U-17s qualify for World Cup *New ZealandU-17footballers complete perfect record in pool play *Brothers called into All Whites

"I made a goal at the start just to win with the team," Spragg said.

"I wasn't thinking about golden boot or best player at all but after a couple of games I thought, 'shoot, I could actually win this thing'."

He said his teammates were the real reason he performed so well, though picking up the accolades was still a humbling achievement.

His side finished unbeaten at the tournament, scoring 27 goals and giving up just 2 throughout their five games.

Despite their dominance, Spragg said the difficulty of the tournament should not be understated.

"The competition was tough, everything about it was tough," he said.

"Going over to the islands and playing in the heat is extremely difficult, and the island nations are very passionate, they battle hard."

Footballing talent runs in the Spragg family, with brother Thomas being a part of the 2009 U17 New Zealand team which became the first national team to progress past the group stages in a FIFA World Cup tournament.

"It's influenced me massively," Spragg said.

"He's been there and done that so he gives me a lot of advice and teaches me. I can'tthank him enough for all the help he gives me."

He grew up idolising All Whites legends Ryan Nelsen and Winston Reid, and if he has his way, he'll be joining some of them in the future.

"The dream is to go pro and play in the English premiership," Spragg said.

"It's very inspiring knowing that if they can do it, then why not me? It gives you that hope that it is possible and if you work hard and stay dedicated it can happen.

"You just have to believe in yourself."

Spragg is lookingforward to playing alongside two of his New Zealand teammates atSt Kentigerns this year before heading over to India for the World Cup in October.

-Stuff.co.nz

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Meadowbank youngster claims top awards at Oceania Football ... - Stuff.co.nz

More than two-thirds of Oceania Healthcare's sites are on New Zealand's North Island.

Meet the aged care rollout story setting course for the listed market.

Macquarie-backed initial public offering candidate Oceania Healthcarehas told fund managers it has 1674 new residences in the pipeline with about 1000 already eitherconsented or under construction.

The New Zealand-basedcompany had $NZ47 million in proforma underlying EBITDA in the 2016 financial year, which was up from $NZ26.9 million in 2014 and $NZ29.6 million in 2015.

That represents 32 per cent average annual growth, and Oceania expects similar sorts of numbers into the medium term fuelled by the aforementioned development at sites including Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Nelson and Christchurch.

Oceania said care beds were the biggest part of its portfolio, and would make up 47 per cent of its business under current development plans. Independent units is its biggest growth engine, and is expected to grow to 38 per cent of the portfolio.

That's Oceania's pitch, as it goes about meeting Australian fundies ahead of a planned listing.

Owner Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets has house broker Macquarie Capital on board to manage the offer, while Kiwi brokers Deutsche Craigs and First NZ Capital - affiliates of the local Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse respectively - are also along for the ride.

Fundies expect the company to be back in front of them as early as next month. As always, whether the IPO floats or flops will depend on pricing.

Investors were quick to compare Oceania torivalsSummerset Group Holdings and Metlifecare, which are already on the ASX boards, and the NZX-listed Ryman Healthcare and Arvida Group.

While the five players operate in the same sector, their respective business mixes are quite different. Oceania has made its name in care beds, which is similar to Arvida, while Summerset Group and Metlifecare make their money from independent units. Rymanis split more evenly between the two sub-sectors.

Oceania is just the latest in a long line of Kiwi floats seeking to drum up support among the Australian institutional investment community.

Its run at the ASX boards comes after earlier attempts to attract a private equity or trade buyer for the 48-strong retirement facility portfolio.

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Aged care play Oceania Healthcare's pitch to fundies - The Australian Financial Review

12 Mar 2017, 10:30 a.m.

Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium.

TWELVE months after she placed secondat the national titles, Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium.

GOOD START: Bathurst BMX Club's Hayley Wolfenden leads the way over Kiwi rival Toni James in a moto during the Oceania Championships. Photo: ANYA WHITELAW

Competing at her home track over three days of racing last weekend, the 26-year-old showed up some of her more experienced rivals.

Riding in the 17 and over womens class, she placed third in both BMX Australias national series on Friday night and the Grands Assault series on Sunday afternoon.

Though that pair of podiums was impressive, it was eclipsed by her second placing in Saturdays Oceania Championships for her class.

The result was the biggest of her BMX career thus far.

Its your home track, so its sort of strange to contemplate that it came it such a big event, she said.

Youre racing international riders. It definitely felt like something bigger than a club meet.

Its pretty much the second highest group before you turn pro, if youre not riding pro you tend to ride that group.

While a mistake on the second jump on Friday night saw Wolfenden go from first to third in her final moto, the performance still gave her confidence heading into the Oceania Championships.

With no final conducted for her class, it meant Wolfenden needed strong performances in each of her three motos.

The first race I was leading to the line where I shouldve got one extra peddle in, but I didnt, she said.

I thought I might be up for therewin after that. But the next two motos were a bit of a different story, I just got seconds and that was what decided the overall result.

If your group was small, what they did was a point score system instead of a final, so every race counts. So its even harder again, its not just a matter of making the final and pulling it all out then.

I needed to win two out of three to get first placebut second, I cant complain, thats for sure.

Wolfenden placed second in each of her three motos to be runner-upbehind undefeated New Zealand rider Toni James.

The Kiwienjoyed a clean sweep for the three events, but given her experience, Wolfenden was happy to have tested James.

The girl that beat me on Saturday, well she beat me every day, I think she said that she has been racing since was three whereas I have been racing for five years. I was Okay, youve probably got 10 years or so of racing on me.

Ive just got to work on a few tiny things and hopefully next time I will be keeping up with the experienced ones.

Wolfendens next big test will be Septembers state titles.

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Hayley Wolfenden rides to an Oceania BMX podium - Western Advocate

As the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII wrapped up March 3 in Yangon, Myanmar, participants said they would carry with them a renewed commitment to their responsibility as eco-citizens, the message of environmental care to their congregations and beyond, and an affirmation of the meeting's importance in strengthening the work of religious in the region.

The conference's theme, "A Call for Global Ecological Conversion," used Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home" and his papal bull,Misericordia Vultus, which introduced the Holy Year of Mercy, as spiritual frameworks in exploring issues related to the environment and climate change.

Participants said the message of caring for the Earth, countering climate change and helping communities that global warming affects most will continue beyond the five-day Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious, known by its acronym, AMOR.

"By doing this, we have done something for the whole Catholic church and the church in Myanmar," Sr. Margaret Maung, president of the Catholic Religious Conference of Myanmar, aSister of Our Lady of the Missionsand chairwoman of the 19-member working committee, said in an interview. "By the presentations and the table sharing and interacting, we came to know each other and the reality of the church, and that we are one with the Earth and the strengths and weaknesses of the environment and climate change."

Akeynote addressby Yangon Cardinal Charles Bo on the first day, Feb. 27, set the tone for the gathering of 132 participants from 21 countries. Country reports from Bangladesh, India, Korea, New Zealand and others showed the effects of climate change and pollution, as well as specific concerns, such as use of nuclear power in Japan in the wake of the 2011Fukushima nuclear disaster.

In subsequent days, participants explored more deeply the meaning of eco-spirituality and the inherent Asian spirituality that celebrates "contemplative consciousness" and "ecological consciousness understood as awareness and sensitivity to the interconnectedness of all beings and things on Earth," as Claretian Fr. Samuel Canilang, director of theInstitute for Consecrated Life in Asia, said in his presentation.

"Asians don't need anyone to tell us the environment is sacred," he said. "It is natural to us."

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Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious inspires eco-citizens - National Catholic Reporter (blog)

MARC HINTON

Last updated19:29, March 10 2017

BRUCE JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY

Olympic rowing champ Hamish Bond has produced his most significant result as a cyclist at the Oceania championships.

Clearly double Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond wasn't listening when it was broadly accepted his dalliance with cycling would be a road paved with difficulty.

This, after all, was a career rower who had achieved special things sitting down and going backwards on the water. Nobody anticipated something similar swapping the boat for the bike on dry land.

But Bond continues to blaze an extraordinary trail in his remarkable transition to road cycling, a third place finish in the time-trial at the Oceania championships in Canberra his latest significant achievement on two wheels.

The 31-year-old two-time Games champion in the pair alongside partner Eric Murray has taken a year away from rowing to give competitive road cycling a crack. But even the Cambridge super athlete can't have envisaged the success he would have this early in such a different sport.

READ MORE: * Murray to rehab knee while Bond cycles * Another step into unknown for Bond *Bond to tackle Tour of Southland *Hamish Bond and Eric Murray win Olympic gold

Bond's latest achievement, finishing top Kiwi and on the podium in a classy Oceania field, tops even his earlier achievements in the New Zealand summer.

Previously Bond had beaten top touring pro George Bennett to win the Abel Tasman Cycling Challenge and then finished third in the time-trial at the national championships, followed by a creditable 14th in the road race. He was also eighth on general classification in the Tour of Southland.

But in just his second time-trial start on an exacting Canberra course, Bond has beaten home fellow Kiwis Jason Christie (fourth) and Joseph Cooper (fifth) to power to third overall.

The time-trial was won by defending champion Sean Lake, of the IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness team, who powered home in 54min 32sec.

Fellow Aussie Ben Dyball was 53s back in second place, with Bond coming home 1:00 behind the winner and 1:38 ahead of Christie who was second behind Jack Bauer in the national time-trial in early January.

Bond was rapt with his effort as he continues to fast-track his education in the tough time-trial discipline.

"It's important I keep improving and keep justifying the input of a lot of people who have been quite generous with their time and effort in terms of helping me progress quickly," Bond told Stuff from Canberra. "It's always good to put in a good performance that justifies that and enables you to keep going.

"Though a lot of the top pros were overseas racing it was still a good calibre race, and some top New Zealand riders were there. To tip both [national road race champion] Joe Cooper and Jason Christie over was pleasing.

"I felt I went OK. It was a challenging course, and very little of it was flat. It was basically up and down the whole 40km which was a good challenge and I quite enjoyed it. It was a really good experience doing a tough time-trial like that."

Bond rated the Oceania bronze his best achievement of his cycling stint thus far.

"I felt it was a step on from the nationals," he added. "It's only the second time-trial I've done, and the idea was to try ride with a little more control. I was perhaps a little out of control at the nationals in terms of going over the red line a little early and just hanging on for the bulk of it.

"I tried to get my pace more even throughout the race here which was a challenge given the hilly nature. I tried to keep my efforts more measured and feel as though I did that to a degree. When you've only done two [of these races] you learn so much each time you go out."

Bond is bypassing the road race in Canberra, but will head to Europe later this year to continue to measure himself in his year-long stint in his new sport.

-Stuff

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Rowing champ Hamish Bond continues to excel on bike with Oceania Championships time-trial third - Stuff.co.nz

As the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII wrapped up March 3 in Yangon, Myanmar, participants said they would carry with them a renewed commitment to their responsibility as eco-citizens, the message of environmental care to their congregations and beyond, and an affirmation of the meeting's importance in strengthening the work of religious in the region.

The conference's theme, "A Call for Global Ecological Conversion," used Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home" and his papal bull, Misericordia Vultus, which introduced the Holy Year of Mercy, as spiritual frameworks in exploring issues related to the environment and climate change.

Participants said the message of caring for the Earth, countering climate change and helping communities that global warming affects most will continue beyond the five-day Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious, known by its acronym, AMOR.

"By doing this, we have done something for the whole Catholic church and the church in Myanmar," Sr. Margaret Maung, president of the Catholic Religious Conference of Myanmar, aSister of Our Lady of the Missions and chairwoman of the 19-member working committee, said in an interview. "By the presentations and the table sharing and interacting, we came to know each other and the reality of the church, and that we are one with the Earth and the strengths and weaknesses of the environment and climate change."

Sr. Margaret Maung, chairperson of the AMOR XVII Myanmar planning committee, greets meeting participants. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

A keynote addressby Yangon Cardinal Charles Bo on the first day, Feb. 27, set the tone for the gathering of 132 participants from 21 countries. Country reports from Bangladesh, India, Korea, New Zealand and others showed the effects of climate change and pollution, as well as specific concerns, such as use of nuclear power in Japan in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

In subsequent days, participants explored more deeply the meaning of eco-spirituality and the inherent Asian spirituality that celebrates "contemplative consciousness" and "ecological consciousness understood as awareness and sensitivity to the interconnectedness of all beings and things on Earth," as Claretian Fr. Samuel Canilang, director of theInstitute for Consecrated Life in Asia, said in his presentation.

"Asians don't need anyone to tell us the environment is sacred," he said. "It is natural to us."

Not long ago, Canilang said, Asians may have felt self-conscious focusing such attention on the spirituality of the natural world, lest others accuse them of being pantheistic. But Laudato Si' is liberating Asians to speak of their relationship with nature, he said.

Moreover, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in its document "Contemplate" reminds consecrated men and women of the call to ecological conversion, he said.

"The new relationship with the natural environment, which the congregation describes as 'relational circularity,' calls for a new spirituality, one that is ecological and contemplative," Canilang said.

A sister watches the opening ceremony for the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Yangon, Myanmar. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

Among other presentations, participants listened to best-selling Myanmar authorSayama Ju,whose novels and writings often focus on ecological themes. They heard from Caritas Myanmar about its work with ethnic populations and small farmers in encouraging sustainable crops and agricultural methods, as well as the organization's continued recovery for the thousands affected by a 2008 tropicalcyclone.

They visited a government-run agricultural research center that focuses in part on the development and use of organic fertilizers and seeds.

In his homily during closing Mass, Bo said participants should not fear taking on corporate giants and governments that would harm the environment.

"You are like David," he said. "You face the Goliath of governments, cronies, business interests who would like to mutilate our Earth, our mother, our sister. But be armed with conviction."

In a follow-up interview with GSR, Bo said in urging religious women and men to take on corporate and government interests, the needs of people who live in poverty and ethnic communities caught in the middle of conflicts over natural resources have to be a key concern.

Participants at the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII in Yangon, Myanmar, listened to a variety of presentations on environmental themes, including developing a deeper eco-spirituality. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

He hoped the AMOR conference would serve as inspiration for women and men religious to "be more outspoken regarding ecological issues and destruction of natural resources and deforestation, especially connected with armed groups and ethnic groups and military armed groups," he said. "More and more, we are trying to speak out, especially the religious as well as some of the bishops, for ecological justice and economic justice. These two things are linked together."

Yet amid the need for strategic planning, fundraising and other aspects of undertaking missions, he cautioned religious communities about losing their spiritual dimension and encouraged them to focus on people who live in poverty.

"Our biggest temptation today is to become an NGO," he said in his homily, underlining Francis' message for all religious "to return to simplicity."

Many participants took heart particularly that the conference was in Myanmar, itself a country emerging from 60 years of military rule and isolation.

Participants at the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII watch a demonstration on plant grafting at the Vegetable and Fruit Research and Development Center in Yangon, Myanmar. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

"We are coming from the area where we had war for many years and always feeling like we were the people who suffered," said Sr. Christa Mariathas of theHoly Familyprovince in Sri Lanka, a country that endured a 25-year civil war that ended in 2009. "Sometimes we become furious because we didn't have opportunities, but [Myanmar] is opening once again to be with other countries. We feel that we are the same and we can come out of our boundaries just to embrace all nature."

Several sisters told GSR that they were going to adopt practical means of furthering the recycling and ecological efforts of their communities.

Sr. Angelina Ng, a contemplativeCarmelitenun from Singapore, said her community has been doing a renovation project, and workers have strewn trash around the worksite. She said she would get recycling bins and start recycling materials from the site.

Others mentioned expanding gardens, using more organic fertilizers and undertaking more awareness-building at parishes and schools on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Many say the meeting was important not only for the ecological message but for the opportunity to connect with women religious from other countries.

Participants at the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII visit the Vegetable and Fruit Research and Development Center in Yangon, Myanmar, to learn about the center's work on seeds, organic fertilizers and sustainable agriculture methods. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

"I love AMOR," said Sr. Maria Vianney Hoang Thi Diep, an Our Lady of the Missions sister in Vietnam. "I love the way we put energy together to find ways to become ecological citizens. That is new for me, to become an ecological citizen."

She said she plans to tell her sisters to be more aware of ecological sensitivities and raise awareness with those they work with.

"I also like the connection between contemplation, communion and mission," which was a focus of the meeting, she said.

"When you contemplate, you are one with God, and you feel God's love for oneself, and you can see the love of God is present in nature," she said. "When you have deeper communion with God, you can have deeper communion with self, with another and with nature. And then it links to mission to do something to care for others and do something to care for our Earth."

AMOR began in 1972 as a forum for women religious in Asia to meet every two to four years to focus on particular themes. This year, men for the first time were invited to attend, as a recognition of the broadness of the topic. Women religious will continue to organize AMOR, but men will continue to be invited to participate in future sessions. The next gathering will be in Indonesia or Bangladesh in 2021.

Sr. Lucy Zhang from Taiwan, left, and Sr. Mary Ma Suling of St. Therese of the Child Jesus from China talked during the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII, held Feb. 28-March 3 in Yangon, Myanmar. (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

Sisters from different congregations and countries networked during meals and tea breaks. During an evening of entertainment, some performed impromptu songs from their countries, and all sang a united rendition of "Lord, We Thank You" in English.

The event and the participation pleased AMOR organizers.

"We became close with each other and shared how we are doing with our ministries, to share resources, share materials and whatever we come across in congregations," Maung told GSR.

Sr. Eden Panganiban, one of the event's facilitators, said she hadn't participated in previous AMOR gatherings and said she found the networking and interaction valuable. Yet follow-through is important so connections continue, she said.

Participants at the Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII in Yangon, Myanmar (GSR photo / Gail DeGeorge)

"Part of the reawakening or rebirth would be that AMOR is to really take up a mission for Asia-Pacific on how consecrated women with the support of men could be a voice in the region," she said. "AMOR would have its own particular mission for that and become even a prophetic voice within the church structure."

A statement summarizing the theme and goals of the meeting was drafted and discussed. Participants received this version March 5:

[Gail DeGeorge is editor of Global Sisters Report. Her email address isgdegeorge@ncronline.org. Follow her on Twitter:@GailDeGeorge.]

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Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious inspires eco-citizens - Global Sisters Report (blog)

Australia emphatically won all six gold medals in the time trial races on the opening day of the Oceania Road Cycling Championships in Canberra today.

Sean Lake retained his title in the men's elite time trial after storming to the gold medal, winning by nearly a minute.

The 25-year-old crossed the line in a time of 54 min 32.7sec after dominating the race around the 41 kilometres course.

Another Australian, Ben Dyball, took second in 55:25.4 while the podium was completed by New Zealands Hamish Bond, a two-time Olympic gold medallist rower, in 55:32.1.

Lucy Kennedy added a second gold medal for the hosts when she edged the women's elite race in a close battle, with the top three separated by just 17sec.

The 28-year-old completed the 25km course in 40:4.2, edging compatriot Rebecca Mackey, who took second place in 40:15.1.

An Australia one-two-three was then complete when Lisen Hockings crossed the line in third in 40:20.9.

"This is my first title and it feels like a nice reward for a lot of hard work," said Kennedy.

"Fourth place is hard to take, being so close to a podium.

"I was certainly hoping to make the podium this year and to take the win is extra special.

"The first half was much easier with a lot of downhill, but with such a tough return judging your pace is difficult.

"Conditions were great and a hilly time trial course suits me well so I took advantage of the climbs which I'm sure is where I made up time."

Australian dominance then filtered down to under-23 and under-19 categories.

A close battle saw Jaime Gunning snatch gold in women's under-23 race in a time of 41:6.3, just 1.4sec ahead of Mikayla Harvey of New Zealand.

Harvey was forced to settle for silver in 41:07.7 while she was joined on the podium by Madeline Park, also of New Zealand, who took bronze in 41:45.1.

Australia's Liam Magennis produced a stunning ride to win the under-23 men's crown, as he improved on his fourth place finish in 2016 to take the gold medal in 42:57.7.

Magennis was joined on the podium by fellow Australians Jason Lea and Cyrus Monk who took second and third, in 43:26.3 and 43:39.4, respectively.

In the under-19 women's time trial Australia's Maeve Moroney-Plouffe stormed to gold, covering the 14km course in 21:44.5, having claimed four medals at the Australian Track Championships last weekend in Brisbane.

Silver went to Libby Arbuckle of New Zealand in 21:55.4, 11sec behind Moroney-Plouffe, while Australia's Madeleine Fasnacht finished in third place in 21:58.0.

Sebastian Berwick completed today's Australian dominance when he claimed the under-19 men's title in 36:14.7.

Thomas Jones took silver in 36:53.2 with Mitchell Wright rounded off the top three in 37:09.2, completing another sweep of the podium for the Australians.

Tomorrow marks the start of the road races with all three women's races taking place.

The men's road races then bring the action to a close on Saturday (March 11).

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Australia dominate day one of Oceania Road Cycling Championships - Insidethegames.biz