Motor Sport Australia ha motor vehicle world champions: Jack Brabham and Alan Jones in Formula One, as well as Wayne Gardner, Mike Doohan and Stoner riding motorcycles.
Cricket Don Bradman is deemed to be the greatest cricketer ever to have lived. He had a batting average of 99 runs per innings.
Australian Rules Football A brand of football played by Australians is named after the league, the AFL, see below. It was claimed to have been "invented" by Tom Wills and Henry Harrison, basing it on an Aboriginals game called Mangrook. Its similarity to Irish, Gaelic, football is strong.
America's Cup Australia ended the US' hold on the America's Cup in 1983, the race series being won by Australia II with its controversial winged keel.
Consecutive Olympic Gold Dawn Fraser won a gold medal in the same Olympic event at three consecutive Olympics.
Grand Slams Rod Laver won the Tennis Grand Slam twice.
Par Lap Australia had a great race horse that won 37 races from 51 starts carrying record weight.
SPORT
Callisthenics A method of exercise which includes dance, gymnastics and training equipment was established in the goldfields of the 19th century. Australian Crawl Overarm swimming became widely used in Australia in the 1900s. Tote This system of betting where incoming money placed on racehorses produced racing odds automatically was developed in 1913 by George Julius. Polocrosse Australia created the game of polocrosse in 1938. Race Cam Geoff Healey began using race cam and it was copied worldwide. Winged Keel The winged keel responsible for Australia's win of the America's Cup was made for Australia II by Ben Lexcen.
Australians love prawns, an ideal seafood. What people in other countries call a shrimp is a prawn to Australians. Another issue is a lobster. To Australians this delicacy is a crayfish. A young girl in Australia is called a "Sheila". But dancing with a young girl is not "Waltzing Matilda". During the Depression a "Swagman" would carry his belongings in a bag, called "Matilda", over his shoulder on a stick, as he made his way across the land seeking employment. This was called "Waltzing Matilda". This is the essence of Australian Culture.
Though Australia is a Western country, things are different than in New York or London. Barbecues and going to the beach are important aspects of life. Australians pride themselves on having an equitable society, where everyone "gets a fair go". The majority of Australians live in cities along the coast, but cultural values originating in the outback are important to them. They look with affection to life as it was two hundred years ago when life was hard and a person's character was judged by his actions. Aboriginal culture is important to Australians. They have been on this continent for 50,000 years. Their "laid back" attitude to life has infused present day Australian culture. Possibly the "she'll be right mate" attitude of Australians came from them.
Tysaustralia
After Captain Cook "discovered" Australia it became a colony of Britain. Soon after people were brought here to settle, however, Australia became a destination for convicts, i.e., petty criminals from the UK. By the late 19th century more than half the population were convicts or freed convicts. One in five Australians living today have a convict ancestor. Rum was used as currency in the early days. People preferred to drink rum and beer rather than tea. The first police force formed was made up of ex-convicts. Gold was found all across Australia. Migrants came to dig the gold from European countries, other British colonies and the US. There was a large influx of Chinese who returned home en mass when the easy gold became scarce.
Australia's Cultural Development
Cricket
Australian Footbal League
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Surf Life Saving
Australia prides itself on having a multi-cultural society where people from many countries can express their culture while adopting the more widely held values. Consequently, many lifestyles and cuisines can be enjoyed. A quarter of Australians are born overseas. Post War immigrants came from Europe. Today, most immigrants come from China and to a lesser extent Africa. Just over 2 percent of the population is Aboriginal.
Swimming Ban
It was illegal to swim on Australian beaches until 1902.
Secret Ballot
The secret ballot was introduced to the world by Henry Chapman of Melbourne in 1855
Women Right to Vote
Australia was the second country to give women the right to vote.
Illegal Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge Francis De Groot slashed the ribbon at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge before it was officially cut by John T. Lang.
Drinking Alcohol Daily
Every morning for 35 years, Sir John Robertson, five times premier of New South Wales, drank a pint of rum.
Prime Minister Drowns
Australia lost Prime Minister Harold Holt when he went for a swim in the sea. The mystery was never solved.
Yowie
A hairy man/animal apparently wanders Australia., known as Yowie, Australia's Bigfoot.
Convicts
By the late 19th century 40 percent of white Australians were ex-convicts.
AUSTRALIAN RECORDS AND FACTS
In the World
Urbanized
Australia is the most urbanized country on Earth with 70 percent of the population living in coastal cities.
Gambling
Australians gamble more per head than anywhere else, having a fifth of the world's poker machines.
Land Use
Though mining is an important export industry, more Australian land is used for pubs than mining.
Sixth Largest Nation
Australia is the 6th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil.
Driest Continent
Australia is the driest inhabited country.
Continent Australia
Australia is a continent, the driest on Earth, and is the world's largest island.
Smallest Continent
Of all continents, Australia is the smallest.
Largest Exporter
Australia is the world's largest exporter of Alumina, Coal, Diamonds, Lead, Mineral sands, Refined zinc, Sheep and Wool.
Longest Reef
The Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world
Within Australia
Lowest Rainfall
Rainfall is the lowest at Lake Eyre SA with 100mm per year.
Highest Rainfall
Tully in Queensland has the highest rainfall at 4400mm.
Coldest Ovenight Temperature
The town with the lowest night temperature is Canberra, -15.5 degrees.
Foggiest
Canberra is the foggiest capital.
Largets Island
After Tasmania, Melville Island is the largest island in Australia.
HIghest Point
The highest peak in Australia is Mount Kosciusko NSW at 2230 meters.
Lowest Point
Lake Eyre is the lowest area in Australia, 15 meters below sea level.
Largest Lake
Australia's largest is Lake Eyre, 9500 square kms.
Deepest Lake
Lake St Clair is the deepest in Australia.
Longest River
The longest river in Australia is the Murray River 2520kms long.
Dingo Fence
A fence built to stop dingoes moving into southern Australia is twice as long as the Great Wall of China.
Eight-hour Day
a reasonable working day of 8 hours was accepted in Melbourne in 1856.
Life Expectancy
Australian Men live to 75 years on average, women 80 years.
Egg Consumption
During a lifetime an Australian will eat 165,000 eggs.
Meat Consumption
Australians eat 18 cows and 90 sheep in a lifetime.
Fruit Consumption
Eight tonnes of fruit is eaten by the average Australian
Cheese Consumption
Australians eat half a tonne of cheese.
Vegetable consumption
Over a lifetime an Australia eats ten tonnes of vegetables.
Trams
The last publicly operated tram system runs in Melbourne.
MULTICULTURAL EVENTS & GROUPS
NSW
Calendar of multi-cultural events in New South Wales. Victoria
This state celebrates racial, cultural and religious diversity Queensland
A state action plan to incorporate diversity among ethnic groups. South Australia
Multicultural performers provide enjoyable entertainment. Northern Territory
People from all over the world bring their culture with them Western Australia
It is important for new Australians to set up groups Tasmania
The Multicultural Council of Tasmania is non-government.
A is for Animals Exhibition - Geelong, Victoria A is for Animals is an exhibition about the animals that have worked alongside Australians in war for over one hundred years. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
Creative3 - Brisbane Creative3 is an international forum which aims to empower individuals and organisations to harness the power of creativity, investment and enterprise to build a successful creative business through practical learning and application. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
Home is where the heart is - Adelaide The 1950s and '60s were busy years of immigration to Australia. The Home is where the heart is exhibition invites you to look over the fence and come inside. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
4th Dungog Film Festival - Dungog, New South Wales Set in tiny Dungog, this four-day annual event presents Australian film content and is a launch pad for filmmakers. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
ArtExpress - Albury, New South Wales ArtExpress is an annual exhibition of artworks created by New South Wales students from government and non-government schools for the Higher School Certificate Examination in Visual Arts. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
Up the Cross: Rennie Ellis & Wesley Stacey - Sydney Photographers Rennie Ellis and Wesley Stacey spent time in 'the Cross' over the summer of 1970β71. Together they captured the sights, sounds and pulsating rhythms of life of Sydney's infamous red-light district. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
BluesFest - Byron Bay, New South Wales Bluesfest has continued to evolve, incorporating surf culture, Latino Music, African Music and political and environmental message artists. Bluesfest prides itself on being an all ages family event. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
agIdeas 2010 - Melbourne 2010 marks the 20th year of agIdeas international design week, which presents a series of events for designers. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
History of National Photographic Purchase Award - national Entries are now open for the 2010 National Photography Prize with the theme: 'Modern Narratives: Photography as Story Teller'. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
Barney Ellaga exhibition - Melbourne This exhibition presents the colourful artwork of Barney Ellaga, born circa 1941 at Hodgson Downs in the Northern Territory. Author : editor@culture.gov.au (Editor) Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +1000
Calling someone a bloody idiot is not an insult for an Australian. It is a form of encouragement and shows a friendly feeling toward another. It is a norm of Australian culture. Egalitarianism is the prime cultural directive. Everyone must have a fair go whether they be wealthy or poor, old or young, uneducated or wise. In fact, a person who shows off his wealth is not respected. The tall poppy syndrome predominates - if they stand out above everyone else cut them down to size. Such is Australian culture. To people from other countries Australians can seem to be uncouth and unsophisticated. Being blunt and to the point is the way they live. Why hide things away? If you see something tell it how it is. "Kowtowing" to others is not a thing Australians do. They don't like class systems like there is in British culture for example. Don't get me wrong here. They love the British, not British society, however. A visitor with a title will probably be called "mate", just like everyone else. Going to a "posh" school is meaningless to an Australian.
If you are in a pub you will be expected to buy a round. You will be told it is your "shout". Woe betide the man who tries to avoid paying for beer when it is his turn. When Australians go out to dinner everyone pays for his or her part of the bill. This happens even though some have more money in their pockets than others.
When Australians marry they still keep contact with their single group. Thus mateship continues throughout Australian cultural life. Australians rely on mates in times of need. Times were hard when Europeans first arrived and you needed close bonding in order to survive. Australians don't like racist jokes. They think someone who tells such jokes to be "taking the piss". Jokes about the "Poms", the English, are allowed, however, because they are better than everyone else, aren't they? Besides Poms always have a smart reply. Australians will tell an "ethnic" joke directly to a visitor, whether the foreigner understands it or not.
If you travel to Australia on vacation don't bother to tip. Even taxi drivers will rumble around to find 5 cents in change. And don't sit in the back. Australian culture dictates that you sit in the passenger seat next to the taxi driver for a chat. When invited to a barbecue don't go empty handed. You are expected to bring alcoholic drink even if you drink someone else's. Furthermore, men don't cry. At least Australians don't. Life is hard but "she'll be right" in the long run. Oh, and don't think Australians will fight your fight. You solve your own problems here - ain't that right mate?