Australia ushered in 2022 in a somewhat subdued fashion, heading into 2022 with a reduced crowd watching its iconic fireworks displays on Sydney Harbour. The sky exploded in Sydney with colour at midnight to ring in the new year. While crowds exceeding one million people were the norm in years gone by, organisers expected reduced numbers in the context of the latest coronavirus outbreak. About 17,000 tickets had been issued to watch from one of six City of Sydney vantage points. The fireworks began with the 9 p.m. Welcome to Country, curated by Koori artist and creative consultant Blak Douglas, followed by a performance featuring local First Nations musicians Barkaa and Dobby that ended with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore being handed a message stick. Tickets remained available as the night wore on, while others looked on from the balconies of nearby apartment buildings and hospitality venues as well as vessels on …