The Berean
Well-known member
Isn't the interior of Australia just one huge desert?
Ask an Aussie
- Thread starter Thunder's Muse
- Start date
Isn't the interior of Australia just one huge desert?
One huge dessert actually...blancmange...peach blancmange
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
The Berean
Well-known member
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
I'm told that cross country truckers have to carry their own bathing water ... any truth to that?
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Absolutely. Out there, you can go days without seeing another person. There is no way you could set off through the middle of Australia without A LOT of extra water and jerry cans of fuel. If you break down out there, you can be in real danger if not properly prepared.
Posted from the TOL App!
PureX
Well-known member
The northern/southern hemisphere water rotation thing is a myth. The water-saving toilets do flush strait down, very quickly, though. There are no "drop bears". But there are spiders that like to get in your shoes at night. And I really did see people wearing straw hats with bits of cork hanging by fishing line all around the brim to scare the flies away from their faces. I also saw the "mad max" type vehicles with roll cages and the doors and tops chopped off when I was there. I didn't see anyone carrying giant 'Crocodile Dundee' knives, but I did stay next door to a huge bar/restaurant/motel where the guys came in from the bush on Friday night and partied hard until Sunday morning. They drank and fought and chased women as well as any Crocodile Dundee could. Then they went back to the bush until the next weekend, I guess. I didn't get into the interior, but of what I saw of Australia, it was a beautiful place, populated by terrific people; smart, fun, good-looking, friendly, and adventurous. They're kind of like Canadians but with the volume turned up.
I was thoroughly charmed, and really hope I get to go back again, someday.
I was thoroughly charmed, and really hope I get to go back again, someday.
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Hello, I'm Thunder's Muse. I was born in South Australia on March 23rd 1972 to Australian born parents. My family history in South Australia can be traced back to 1850 as free settlers.
I am Australian.
I am Australian.
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
I'll participate
While Remembrance Day is given recognition throughout the UK, Ireland, Dominions, and other states, do Australians have any form of special events for ANZAC Day?
The ANZACs have become something that has shaped the way Australia is:
I have often thought that perhaps the term ‘ANZAC’ has been misunderstood. It is
not a place, nor is it a campaign or a war. It is not a ceremony or a parade either. The
term ANZAC comes from words Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The term
ANZAC has transcended the physical meaning to become a spirit – an inspiration that
embodies the qualities of courage, discipline, sacrifice, self-reliance and in Australian
terms, that of mateship and a fair go
http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/File...n History/ANZACDaySpeech_GeneralPublic_2.ashx
April 25th of each year is ANZAC day.
Yes, we have Remembrance Day here also and Poppies are everywhere. The 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we have a 1 minute silence to honour them.
The ANZAC's played absolutely crucial roles during the World Wars. During WW1, it was ANZAC forces which bore the brunt of Allied fighting during the Dardanelles Campaign, especially at Gallipoli. WW2 saw ANZAC's playing key roles during the Battle of El Alamein (and the final retaking of Tobruk), fighting at Monte Casino, and during the Kohima/Imphal campaign. Australian and New Zealand troops also saw considerable combat during the Korean War, as well as Vietnam (New Zealand committed more troops to Vietnam, though the Australians played a critical part during the Tet Offensive.
Thank you about Remembrance Day. I was unsure if poppies were worn in Australia.
Thanks
Thank you about Remembrance Day. I was unsure if poppies were worn in Australia.
Thanks
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Unusual facts about Australia
* Swimming - In 1838 it was declared illegal to swim at public beaches during the day! This law was enforced until 1902.
* The secret ballot was first used in Victoria and South Australia following the granting of responsible government. Other states introduced secret ballots as follows: 1856 - Victoria & South Australia 1858 - New South Wales & Tasmania 1859 - Queensland 1893 - Western Australia. The secret ballot was referred to as 'kangaroo voting'. World wide, secret voting is often referred to as the 'Australian ballot.
* Female vote - Australia was the second country to give women the vote.
* In 1932, Francis De Groot, a retired cavalry officer, managed to get himself selected as part of the honour guard at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. When the ribbon was about to be cut, he galloped forward on his horse and slashed the ribbon with his sword, declaring the bridge open in the name of 'the decent citizens of New South Wales'. The ribbon was then tied back together and the ceremony continued. De Groot was carried off to a mental hospital, declared insane and later fined for the replacement cost of one ribbon. :chuckle:
* Independence for WA- In April 1933, 68 per cent of West Australians voted in favour of seceding from the Commonwealth of Australia. However, they needed permission from the British Parliament before they could officially become a new country. Meanwhile, Australia's Federal Parliament was arguing that Britain should not interfere in Australian politics. The end result was that Britain never made a decision. Consequently, Western Australian remained part of the Commonwealth.
* In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia. :chuckle:
*Sir John Robertson, five times premier of New South Wales, was said to have drank a pint of rum every morning for 35 years. Later said: 'none of the men who have left footprints in this country have been cold water men.'
* Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Cheviot Beach, near Portsea on 17th December 1967, and was never seen again. The event has been referred to as 'the swim that needed no towel'.
* Until 1984, Australia's National anthem was "God save the Queen/King."
* Cartoonists - A cartoon is a drawing that makes a satirical, witty, or humorous point. On 17 July 1924, the world's first society of cartoonists, the Black and White Artists' Society, was formed in Sydney.
* Yowie sighting - In 1987, the Alice Springs police station received a call from a frightened family. The family had stopped for a cup of tea after a morning of rabbit hunting. Then a huge ape like creature, two meters tall and covered in hair, leapt out of an empty water tank and began walking towards them. The family fled to their truck and the creature ran after them before disappearing into the bush. The man, Frank Burns believed it was a man however the women, Phyllis Kenny, told the press she could tell the difference between man and beast and this was definitely a beast. The following day police searched the area and found a man, 203 centimetres tall weighing a estimated 127-159 kg (or about two Oprah Winfreys) sitting naked by the roadside. The man was then taken to a local mental hospital.
*Australia day - January 26, Australia day, is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying a load of Convicts.
*Australia was the 3rd country, after the US and Russia, to launch a satellite into orbit. It was for the British, using a 'Blue Streak' rocket
* Swimming - In 1838 it was declared illegal to swim at public beaches during the day! This law was enforced until 1902.
* The secret ballot was first used in Victoria and South Australia following the granting of responsible government. Other states introduced secret ballots as follows: 1856 - Victoria & South Australia 1858 - New South Wales & Tasmania 1859 - Queensland 1893 - Western Australia. The secret ballot was referred to as 'kangaroo voting'. World wide, secret voting is often referred to as the 'Australian ballot.
* Female vote - Australia was the second country to give women the vote.
* In 1932, Francis De Groot, a retired cavalry officer, managed to get himself selected as part of the honour guard at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. When the ribbon was about to be cut, he galloped forward on his horse and slashed the ribbon with his sword, declaring the bridge open in the name of 'the decent citizens of New South Wales'. The ribbon was then tied back together and the ceremony continued. De Groot was carried off to a mental hospital, declared insane and later fined for the replacement cost of one ribbon. :chuckle:
* Independence for WA- In April 1933, 68 per cent of West Australians voted in favour of seceding from the Commonwealth of Australia. However, they needed permission from the British Parliament before they could officially become a new country. Meanwhile, Australia's Federal Parliament was arguing that Britain should not interfere in Australian politics. The end result was that Britain never made a decision. Consequently, Western Australian remained part of the Commonwealth.
* In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia. :chuckle:
*Sir John Robertson, five times premier of New South Wales, was said to have drank a pint of rum every morning for 35 years. Later said: 'none of the men who have left footprints in this country have been cold water men.'
* Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Cheviot Beach, near Portsea on 17th December 1967, and was never seen again. The event has been referred to as 'the swim that needed no towel'.
* Until 1984, Australia's National anthem was "God save the Queen/King."
* Cartoonists - A cartoon is a drawing that makes a satirical, witty, or humorous point. On 17 July 1924, the world's first society of cartoonists, the Black and White Artists' Society, was formed in Sydney.
* Yowie sighting - In 1987, the Alice Springs police station received a call from a frightened family. The family had stopped for a cup of tea after a morning of rabbit hunting. Then a huge ape like creature, two meters tall and covered in hair, leapt out of an empty water tank and began walking towards them. The family fled to their truck and the creature ran after them before disappearing into the bush. The man, Frank Burns believed it was a man however the women, Phyllis Kenny, told the press she could tell the difference between man and beast and this was definitely a beast. The following day police searched the area and found a man, 203 centimetres tall weighing a estimated 127-159 kg (or about two Oprah Winfreys) sitting naked by the roadside. The man was then taken to a local mental hospital.
*Australia day - January 26, Australia day, is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying a load of Convicts.
*Australia was the 3rd country, after the US and Russia, to launch a satellite into orbit. It was for the British, using a 'Blue Streak' rocket
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
*A census taken in 1828 found that half the population of NSW were Convicts, and that former Convicts made up nearly half of the free population.
*It is estimated that by the time transportation ended in 1868, 40 per cent of Australia's English-speaking population were of Convicts descent.
*In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a Convict ancestor.
*Convicts were not sent to Australia for serious crimes. Serious crimes, such as murder, rape, or impersonating an Egyptian were given the death sentence in England.
*Crimes punishable by transportation included recommending that politicians get paid, starting a union, stealing fish from a river or pond, embezzlement, receiving or buying stolen goods, setting fire to underwood, petty theft, or being suspected of supporting Irish terrorism.
* Alcohol- It has been reported that the first European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per head of population than any other community in the history of mankind.
* Police force - Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts.
* Mass moonings - In 1832, 300 female Convicts at the Cascade Female Factory mooned the Governor of Tasmania during a chapel service. It was said that in a "rare moment of collusion with the Convict women, the ladies in the Governor's party could not control their laughter."
*It is estimated that by the time transportation ended in 1868, 40 per cent of Australia's English-speaking population were of Convicts descent.
*In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a Convict ancestor.
*Convicts were not sent to Australia for serious crimes. Serious crimes, such as murder, rape, or impersonating an Egyptian were given the death sentence in England.
*Crimes punishable by transportation included recommending that politicians get paid, starting a union, stealing fish from a river or pond, embezzlement, receiving or buying stolen goods, setting fire to underwood, petty theft, or being suspected of supporting Irish terrorism.
* Alcohol- It has been reported that the first European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per head of population than any other community in the history of mankind.
* Police force - Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts.
* Mass moonings - In 1832, 300 female Convicts at the Cascade Female Factory mooned the Governor of Tasmania during a chapel service. It was said that in a "rare moment of collusion with the Convict women, the ladies in the Governor's party could not control their laughter."
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
*Homicide - Australia was founded by Convicts. Its homicide rate is 1.8 per 100,000 population. The United States was founded by religious zealots. It's homicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000. Almost 400% greater than Australia.
*The ocker - 10 percent of Australians satisfy the definition of an 'ocker' . This 10 percent of the population consume 80 percent of the beer drunk in Australia.
*Gun toting- On average, American soldiers fired seven times as many bullets as Australian soldiers during the Vietnam war.
*Newspaper readership - Per capita, Australians read more newspapers than any other nation.
*Urban dwellers - Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities.
*Gambling - Per Capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation.
*With less than 1 percent of the world's population, Australia has more than 20 percent of its poker machines.
*Australia's expenditure on arts products ranks among the highest in developed countries.
*The average world population density is 117 people per square mile, that of the United States 76 and that of Macao is 69,000. Australia's is only 6.
*Employment of Australians - 80% service sector 14% manufacturing 5% rural.
*2.3 percent of Australia's GDP is derived from agriculture.
*15 percent of Australia's GDP is derived from mining.
*.02 percent of the Australian land mass is used by mines. More land is occupied by pubs.
*Rabbits - For each person in Australia there are two sheep and over 16 rabbits, the latter introduced in 1859 by one enterprising man who brought 24 wild rabbits from England in an effort to remind him of home.
*Bicentenary - At the highpoint of the Bicentenary in 1988, 51% of Australians couldn't see any good reason for celebrating.
*Kangaroo - The name for the Australian marsupial Kangaroo came about when some of the first white settlers saw this strange animal hopping along and they asked the Aborigines what it was called. They replied with 'Kanguru', which in the native language meant 'I don't know' .
*Moomba - The city of Melbourne has a cultural festival using the Aboriginal word Moomba. It seems the festival's initial organisers asked the local Aborigines to suggest a name, and were told that moomba means 'lets get together and have fun.' The grateful organisers subsequently used the name.
In hindsight, the organisers really should have been suspicious that 'lets get together and have fun' could be expressed in two syllables. In reality, 'moom' means 'bum', 'buttocks', or 'anus', while the suffix 'ba' means 'in', 'at' or 'on'. So moomba actually means 'in the bum.'
*Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.
*Australia is the smallest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent in the world. It is the only country which is also a whole continent.
*Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three-quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.
*The ocker - 10 percent of Australians satisfy the definition of an 'ocker' . This 10 percent of the population consume 80 percent of the beer drunk in Australia.
*Gun toting- On average, American soldiers fired seven times as many bullets as Australian soldiers during the Vietnam war.
*Newspaper readership - Per capita, Australians read more newspapers than any other nation.
*Urban dwellers - Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities.
*Gambling - Per Capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation.
*With less than 1 percent of the world's population, Australia has more than 20 percent of its poker machines.
*Australia's expenditure on arts products ranks among the highest in developed countries.
*The average world population density is 117 people per square mile, that of the United States 76 and that of Macao is 69,000. Australia's is only 6.
*Employment of Australians - 80% service sector 14% manufacturing 5% rural.
*2.3 percent of Australia's GDP is derived from agriculture.
*15 percent of Australia's GDP is derived from mining.
*.02 percent of the Australian land mass is used by mines. More land is occupied by pubs.
*Rabbits - For each person in Australia there are two sheep and over 16 rabbits, the latter introduced in 1859 by one enterprising man who brought 24 wild rabbits from England in an effort to remind him of home.
*Bicentenary - At the highpoint of the Bicentenary in 1988, 51% of Australians couldn't see any good reason for celebrating.
*Kangaroo - The name for the Australian marsupial Kangaroo came about when some of the first white settlers saw this strange animal hopping along and they asked the Aborigines what it was called. They replied with 'Kanguru', which in the native language meant 'I don't know' .
*Moomba - The city of Melbourne has a cultural festival using the Aboriginal word Moomba. It seems the festival's initial organisers asked the local Aborigines to suggest a name, and were told that moomba means 'lets get together and have fun.' The grateful organisers subsequently used the name.
In hindsight, the organisers really should have been suspicious that 'lets get together and have fun' could be expressed in two syllables. In reality, 'moom' means 'bum', 'buttocks', or 'anus', while the suffix 'ba' means 'in', 'at' or 'on'. So moomba actually means 'in the bum.'
*Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.
*Australia is the smallest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent in the world. It is the only country which is also a whole continent.
*Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three-quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.
The Berean
Well-known member
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Australia is still a part of the Commonwealth (under England's Rule) and so our Govt, laws etc are based on those of England.
Thunder's Muse
Well-known member
Waltzing Matilda
(unofficial Aussie Anthem)
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
....................
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
.....................
Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
......................
Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
(unofficial Aussie Anthem)
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
....................
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
.....................
Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
......................
Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.