It’s Australia Day today, a day for leisure, pleasure and relaxation. Unfortunately, the last week of torrential rain has left certain events cancelled, I’m certain that Aussies all over the country will still find ways to celebrate today – usually with a lot of booze and bbq’s in the local parks or in their own backyards.
Here are some interesting facts you may or may not know about the land down under:
* Australia is a continent, country and island.
* Sport is an important part of Australian culture. Football, cricket, tennis, and swimming are just some of the sports Aussies are not too bad at.
* It’s mostly made up of dry and arid earth that is used for sheep and cattle grazing so the majority of Australia’s population lives along the coastlines that stretch for around 50,000km. No surprise there considering we do have some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches around the world.
* Sarah Mycroft was the first woman to run around Australia. It took her just over seven months and with two kids in tow with a total distance of 14,772km and 15 pairs of running shoes. Now that’s impressive.
* Kangaroos do not hop all over the place. Yes you will find them in bush areas, sometimes whilst driving down the highway, and maybe in your local town if you live in a country area.
* Koala’s are often drunk and sleeping on trees. Ingesting too many gum leaves leaves them in a bit of a drunken state. They are awfully cute though.
* We have 20 of the most deadliest snake species in the world. Not cool at all. I prefer they stay away. Fortunately, in the twenty odd years that I’ve been here I have only seen a snake outside a zoo maybe five or six times. Once or twice in my own backyard in the suburbs. Unfortunately, in recent months there has been a rise in brown snakes in southern QLD.
* Australia is extremely multicultural. Around 60% of Australians are of a different cultural heritage. Unfortunately, there are the odd few Aussies that can be racist – we try to stay away from those.
* Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is one massive rock. It’s circumference reaches about 8km. Towards the end of July each year there’s an Ayers Rock Marathon. It’s the middle of winter here but the temperature there can still be in the mid 20’s during the day.
* Most settlers here in the late 1700’s were convicts from Britain. During this time and beyond a lot of injustice was done to the Aborigines. Kevin Rudd, former Aussie PM, was the first to make a public apology to the Indigenous Australian population for the atrocities they faced at the hands of the settlers and those that followed.
* Women were first able to vote in 1902 – Australia was apparently the second country to allow this.
* People will greet you on the street. Don’t be surprised if you’re taking a stroll and the person coming in the opposite direction will give you a nod and chirpy ‘Morning’ or ‘G’day’. Just smile and nod or say hello and go along your happy way.
* Julia Gillard of the Labour Party became the first female Prime Minister in June 2007 through a leadership election not the people’s election. In my opinion, neither she or the Labour Party have done any good for the country. Unless getting into debt is a good thing?
* Vegemite isn’t the nicest spread to eat. It’s made from yeast extract and most visitors detest it. However, if you do happen to try it, make sure you spread it sparingly on a slice of toast and add a couple slices of tomato and maybe melted cheese…not too bad at all.
* Barbecues are a very popular pastime in Australia. Check out any of the local parks near beaches or even in the mountains during the weekend and you’ll find family and friends barbecuing sausages and steaks, eating salads and rolls, drinking beer and playing outdoor cricket. Aussies do like their outdoor time.
* We have a lot of one hump camels here in the land down under. It’s actually the largest population of one hump camels in the world. Confession: I only learnt this fact a few years ago, I guess I never came face to face with a camel in Australia.
* If you’re invited to a social gathering you might be asked to ‘Bring a plate’ this means to bring some food – a cake, a few sausages for the barbie, a salad. If everyone brings a plate you get variety and the host doesn’t have to look after everything – it’s a great way to chuck a party and not have too worry too much about the budget or menu. ‘BYO‘ is often popular and it means bring your own drink – alcohol and soft drinks. Some restaurants have a BYO option too though you’re likely to get hammered with corkage.
* Melbourne, unfortunately only Melbourne, has a public holiday especially for one horse race. The Melbourne Cup. It’s the most popular race day in Australia and probably one of the most unproductive days in the country if you have to work, it’s held on the first Tuesday of November. The morning you spend discussing potential punts and going to the TAB to put on a bet. Lunch can be catered at work or you meet with your colleagues at a local restaurant or bar. At 3pm Melbourne time (2pm here in QLD) most people stop to watch the 3200m horse race. Afterwards you either celebrate your win or talk about what you should’ve, could’ve or would’ve done in hindsight.
* Lifestyle wise, I think Australia is a great place to live. Good weather, friendly folk, helpful welfare and health care system, and a decent standard of living even on low incomes (if you have no debt).
* We do have one of the highest costing public transport systems. I pay $20 a day to get to and from work. Ridiculous but it’s easier than driving the 80km I’d have to and pay triple that in parking.
* Australia is hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games – and they are being held in my home town, Gold Coast QLD. Hopefully, this should lead to a reduction in unemployment and a growth in the area in general.
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!
Disclaimer:
Some points are my opinion and from my experiences. Others may have different views on Australia. If I have gotten something wrong please feel free to correct me (nicely please).
Belated Happy Australian Day to you! Lots of interesting facts there, fascinating that someone ran around the whole way! (Would be great to have a post on her for my collection of Inspiring Women if you had time to write one? *coughs*)