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Aussie Icons

 

  1. Kangaroos: The Kangaroo is the number one Australian Icon and appears along with the Emu on the Coat of Arms. It is said that these animals were used as they cannot walk backwards, thereby reflecting the great Australian trait not to look back but forward to the future. There are 47 different varieties of Kangaroo. The largest are referred to as `Roos` while the rest are called Wallabies. The Red Kangaroo is the big brother, at a height of 1.8m and a weight of 90kg. It can jump nine meters and hop over a 3 meter high fence. At top speed it can reach 75 kilometres an hour. The little baby is the Monjon which grows to only 35cm and weighs 1.4kg.
  2. Convicts: The first inhabitants of Australia were `Convicts`. Two hundred years ago in England the government was under the impression that if it would `export` all criminals, society would become free of crime. As a result, thousands of convicts were transported and Australia became populated. 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 convicts. In 2007, it was estimated that still almost 1 out of four living Australians had a convict ancestor. Nowadays this is not considered something to feel ashamed about. 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, receiving or buying stolen goods, or being suspected of supporting Irish terrorism.
  3. Beach life and backyard cricket: Two great ways to relax. Aussies love the beach and there are plenty beautiful stretches of sand around. Living on the coast, at any given time you would not have to go far to have a beach of your own. However sunbathing is not without danger. Since the scare of skin cancer alarmed parents in the early nineties (thin ozon layer), kids are told to wear hats, swimming suits and put on lots of sun scream. Despite of all this, most Aussies love to spend a Sunday on the beach with esky (portable cooler), tent and surfboard. Surfing is hugely popular among young people, often representing a free and careless lifestyle. Often, Australians play cricket on the beach, but when Aussies talk about how best to learn cricket, most will mention `Backyard cricket`. Back yard cricket has become an icon among men describing a game with its own rules, made up by the players and changing all the time. It came from the days that everybody in Australia had a back yard (garden). As house prices keep going up, a tradition may disappear as large backyards become an expensive feature.
  4. Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera house: The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a famous Aussie landmark. At the official opening in March 1932 total cost had risen to about $13.5 million, which was finally paid for by 1988. The bridge is over a km long and as wide as a football field. At 134 metres high, most ships can cross under the bridge. At New Years Eve famous fireworks are lit from the bridge, being showed all over the world. It takes 30,000 litres of paint to cover the Sydney Harbour Bridge and famous actor Paul Hogan once worked as a painter on the bridge. If interested, students can climb the bridge and enjoy the great views. More info at: http://www.bridgeclimb.com/. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognisable images of the modern world, with its whit colour and roof resembling the sails of a ship. It was designed and build by renowned Danish architect Jorn Utzon. His design was, arguably, beyond the capabilities of engineering mid last century and the venture experienced large delays and cost blow-outs. At several occasions the NSW Government was tempted to call a halt. In 1966 the situation reached a crisis point- with arguments about cost, payments and the interior design. Sadly Jorn Utzon resigned from the project and it was finished by others in 1973. The total cost of over 100 million dollar ultimately seems money well spend, as people all over the world recognize and admire the building as typical for the city of Sydney. Nowadays, all Australians are extremely proud of their Architectonical Icon and Utzon is hailed for his daring design.
  5. Neighbours: Over a hundred million people daily watch the Australian television soap `Neighbours`. The series have been shown in more than 50 different countries around the world making `Ramsay Street` world famous, although the real name of the set location is `Pinoak Court`in the suburb of Vermont South which is 29 kilometres East from Melbourne Centre. The story of the relationships between the street’s residents started in March 1985, and lasted already more than 4000 episodes. The show has been a career-launchpad of several members of its cast including: Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pierce, Natalie Imbruglia, Daniel MacPherson and Delta Goodrem. For more information visit the Neighbours website: www.neighbours.comand for a neighbour tour visit: http://www.neighbourstour.com.au/
  6. Grand Footy Finals. AFL at Melbourne Cricket ground or NRL at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Australia is strictly divided in two when it comes to choosing the most popular sport. What people talk about on Monday morning all depends on where you study. Do you do a course in New South Wales or Queensland, than you will hear everything about the NRL (National Rugby league, www.NRL.com.au) final in October. Studying in Victoria means that people will try to explain to you the importance of choosing to support an Australian Rules team (www.AFL.com.au). The Grand final in the last weekend of September is watched by more than 100.000 visitors at the Iconic Melbourne Cricket ground, the largest stadium in Australia.(Photo: Collingwood-Brisbane)
  7. Aboriginal Art: Australian Indigenous art is the oldest art tradition in the world, dating back more than 40,000 years. The special `dot` style or X-ray animals and the telling of characterises this distinguished art form. In recent years, Aboriginal art has become more widely appreciated, which is reflected in the price. A painting by the late brilliant artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, sold in July 2007 for $2.4 million. He had sold it originally for $1,200 in 1977.
  8. Ned Kelly. Where America in the nineteen century had it’s bandits, Australia had bushrangers and the most notorious bushranger was Ned Kelly. Today, Ned Kelly is an Australian legend. The Kelly Gang were four outlaws, but they did not rob stage-coaches or individuals. They described themselves as the `defenders of the oppressed`, turning them into the `Robin Hoods` from Down Under. The iron mask, worn by Ned as protection against bullets, added to the cult status. However, amongst others, the Kelly Gang did shoot death 3 policemen and successfully carried out two bank robberies (at Euroa and Jerilderie). In June 1880 Ned made his last stand. The Kelly gang was at the Glenrowan Hotel when they were surrounded by police. Ned was the only survivor of the siege. Despite protests by thousands of supporters he was convicted of the murder of one of the police officers and was sentenced to death. In Melbourne gaol, on 11 November 1880 Ned Kelly was hanged. He was twenty-five years old. Today, as a true legend, Ned inspired painters, moviemakers, writers and musicians. Some Australians feel Ned Kelly represents the free spirit of the early (Irish?) Australians. Melbourne Gaol has great tours: http://www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au/
  9. BBQ and Vegemite: Australians have a special love for Barbeques (BBQ). Steak, shrimps or sausages, Australians roast them on electrical, gas or coal plates. Often you see a party of people gathered around (free) electrical BBQs in one of the countries many parks. However one product stands more for Australia than anything else: vegemite. In 1922, a Melbourne man called Fred Walker (who started the Fred Walker Company which eventually became Kraft Foods Limited in Australia) had the idea of using yeast extract left over from the manufacture of beer to create a bread spread filled with vitamin B. Its strange, salty yeast, taste is not likely to turn a whole nation into addicts, but that is exactly what happened. Most Australian grew up with Vegemite. If you want to know why: have a taste and see if you like it!
  10. Melbourne Cup Day and Phar lap. Melbourne Cup day is Australia's most famous Tuesday. At 3.00 pm, on the first Tuesday in November, Australians everywhere stop for a horse race: the Melbourne Cup. Victorians made it an official public holyday and the race produced legendary horses like Makybe Diva which is the only horse winning Three Melbourne Cups between 2003 and 2005. However, Australia’s most famous race horse is Phar lap. Winning 37 of his 51 starts in the 1930’s, Pharlap won all four days of the 1930 Flemington Spring Carnival including the Melbourne Cup. As handicappers saddled him with enough weight to stop a train, he never won the Melbourne cup again and his owner took him overseas to race in America. He easily won his first race but then died in mysterious circumstances, some believing he was poisoned. After his death his hide was mounted and put on display in the Melbourne Museum. 
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