The True Meaning of Australia Day

Yet, from the desert the prophets come. Not the desert run by BHP/Billington and Essington ''I am work'' Lewis. Not the desert run by The Big Three financed by The Big Four. It's the desert that is suburbia. We are all, almost without exception, from THAT desert. And our prophets are born underneath the dull steel of a Hills Hoist. We are not just a mining pit with a pretty coastline. There's a bit more to us than that.

Our nation barely knows the words to its own national anthem. That fact makes my heart swell with pride. I love to see the horrified, furtive glances and inept, bad mime and mumbling that occurs if we ever get to that dreaded second verse. My magnificent and future Nobel Prize winning prime ministerial five-year-old daughter, Lotte May Muldoon, knows Advance Australia Fair better than 90 something per cent of the Australian population. I love that and her.

I love that if the weather is fine, our beaches will be filled. I love that a cricket ground will be packed. ON A WORK DAY.

I like that we happily shoot and eat our national symbol, the kangaroo (Sorry vegans, but I do). It speaks to our rural and indigenous past. I like that huge swathes of the city hate that.

I like that the tension between the city and the country is not that tense.

We're still finding out who the hell we are. We are a teenage nation. Which, of course brings me to the JJJ Hottest 100. Somehow, that strange and often wonderful station, has become part of our ''national identity''. No-one knows how or why. Anyone over the age of 12 gripes about JJJ, and will happily tell you when ''the glory days of JJJ'' were (I'm one of them. For mine it was when they went from JJ to JJJ. That first bit. THAT was good, weird times. But hey, you've got yours too) and you will hear JJJ across this nation on that day. It will be ubiquitous. And yes I think BBQ too. I think cricket with arguments about LBW and classic catches. It's hard not to. It'll be happening (almost) everywhere.

Do we CARE about Australia Day? Of course not. It's a bit of artificial holiday to make us think we're a nation. We have fun, we're good at that. But do we reflect on our strengths and weaknesses? About where we're headed and where we'd like to go? Do we ponder? Do we furrow our brows? Do our poets battle with the tyranny of the blank page? Do our souls expand towards a new unseen horizon sparkling with the tincture of hope?

Nup. We get on the piss. And sometimes kiss. And sometimes biff. We can, quite effortlessly become the Disney version of Australia. The worst part of us is a drunken nationalism that is like a pack of wolves seeking prey. The best part is planting trees and welcoming newcomers to this miracle of a nation that we are almost embarrassed to share, because it's THAT good. In this nation, we tend to be allowed to ''go about our business'', whatever that may be.

I've lived in this nation my entire life and I still have no idea what it is. I also hugely struggle with even typing the word ''we''. Do I love it? This place that I plant my feet? This place I potter around and bump into other lost souls seeking comfort and joy, unfussed about the concepts of ''identity'' and ''belonging'' ? This place of incomparable beauty hidden from the world, yet profoundly connected? This land of the brutal, weary, yet strangely innocent smile?

Why yes I do. Thanks for asking.

Happy Australia Day.

Source

Maggie's Australia Day Pavlova

MAGGIE Beer shows how to make Australia's favourite dessert, writes Simon Wilkinson.

So what will you be putting on top of the pavlova this Australia Day? That magical circle of billowing white meringue is a blank canvas, as much at home with the wildly fragrant fruit of the tropics as the peaches, nectarines and berries of the southern climes or classically the passionfruit that's grown on a vine trailing over the back shed.

That expression of person and place is one factor that makes the pavlova an Aussie icon just as much as that other spectacular white structure on Sydney harbour. A meringue opera house now there's a thought.

The people who voted in our poll on taste.com.au certainly think so, declaring pav their choice of dessert for Australia Day, ahead of other frontrunners lamingtons and peach melba.

Celebrate Australia Day 2012 at all Ipswich Swim Centres

IPSWICH Australia Day Celebrations will be extended from Bundamba Swim Centre to all Council owned pools as part of the extended flood recovery.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said it was decided just last week to extend Australia Day celebrations throughout Ipswich as part of the recovery from last year's devastating floods.

"Free family fun days will be held at all Swim Centres although the smaller pools at Leichhardt, Goodna and Rosewood will have entry numbers controlled to a maximum of around 250 for safety reasons.

"We commemorated a year of recovery from the flood last week with the unveiling of two monuments and this is just something we felt we could do for the community on Australia Day."

Parks, Sport and recreation Committee Chairperson, Councillor David Morrison said Australia Day celebrations had been held at Council Swim Centres since 1997.

"These celebrations have normally taken the form of a community pool party at Bundamba Swim Centre where up to 1600 people have enjoyed the free community activities.

"It is great to this year be able to extend this to the other Council owned swim centres.

"The basic objective has always been to showcase the Ipswich City Council's swim centres and an active community in the city.

"It displays to the community that Council is interested in providing and operating well-maintained centres that encourage leisure patronage as well as competitive use."

Cr Morrison said the Australia Day celebration in 2011 was supported by Ipswich City Rotary Club and a number of sponsor companies donating goods on the day which were used as give-aways.

"Although the major celebrations will remain at Bundamba where around 1600 people turn out each year, the lessees at Goodna and Rosewood and Leichhardt have agreed to include their centres in Australia Day celebrations as well.

"The smaller pools have offered the community free entry on Australia Day in the past with huge success, but I hope more people join in the true blue celebration of the event this year with prizes on offer nearly all day as part of the flood recovery effort."

Cr Morrison said the pool lessees were offering some tremendous prizes on the day.

"We have some wonderful swim centres across Ipswich and these are absolutely wonderful incentives and reason enough for anyone to turn up at the pool on Australia Day, January 26."

Australia Day Spirit is Alive and Well in Brisbane

Plenty of Pavlova and barbequed sausages will be on the menu in and around Brisbane this Australia Day in celebration of the city's spirit and resilience in the aftermath of the Queensland floods.

Brisbane's tourism industry is getting back to business with many tourism operators staging Australia Day events to show their thanks for the support of the community.

From Brisbane's iconic pubs, to family fun events, live music events, cruises and community barbeques there is an Australia Day celebration to suit all tastes.

"It's incredible how quickly Brisbane is getting back to business," Brisbane Marketing CEO John Aitken said.

"It's great to see the vast majority of local tourism operators, accommodation providers and key attractions throughout the Greater Brisbane region rolling out their welcome mats to visitors.

"There is an enormous desire in Brisbane to prosper against the odds.

"Everyone is extremely positive and upbeat and we're celebrating things as they open," he said.

Family friendly activities

Australia Day 2011 at Australia Zoo
Time: From 8am
Cost: Child - $34, Adult - $58, Family - $172
Website: www.australiazoo.com.au

Get up close to Australia wildlife including koalas, kangaroos and crocodiles. Australia Day fun will also include green and gold face painting, a live performance from John Williamson, traditional indigenous dancing and Pavlova decorating.

Portside- Music in the Plaza
Time: from 9am
Cost: Free
Website: www.portsidewharf.com.au

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Portside Wharf followed by music from Wes Taylor (9am-12pm), Rhythm in Red (12.30pm- 3.30pm) and Chris Palmer (4pm-7pm).

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre - AusSounds Australia Day Concert
Time: from 5.30pm
Cost: Free but bookings essential through ticketek
Website: premier.ticketek.com.au

Celebrate the amazing effort of Queenslanders with this free concert featuring multi-platinum artist Guy Sebastian, as well as local bands Charlie Mayfair and Ball Park Music.

Flag Raising Ceremony- Kangaroo Point
Time: 11.15am
Cost: Free
Website: www.australiaday.org.au/events/?view=QLD&m=217

The flag raising ceremony will be held at Kangaroo Point Park, River Terrace at Kangaroo Point. The ceremony will see the official raising of the Australian, Queensland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, as well as a rendition of the Australian National Anthem by local young Australian, Lauren Porter.
A thunderous 21 gun salute will also take place at the Roma Street Parklands at the traditional time of 12 noon.

Queen Street Mall - QSM Live: Extended Play for Australia Day
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Cost: Free
Website: www.queenstreetmall.com

The Queen Street Mall will become a hive of music on Australia Day, featuring some of Brisbane's best artists in seven locations.


MV Lady Brisbane - Australia Day Cruises at Manly Wharf
Time: from 9am
Cost: $45 for adults, $22 for kids (kids under 4 FREE)
Website: www.brisbanecruises.com.au

Get on the water to celebrate Australia day with a 2.5 hour cruise from Manly Wharf past Green Island, St Helena Island, the Brisbane River mouth, Nudgee Beach and Wellington Point.

Fun for the adults

Regatta Hotel Backyard BBQ
Time: All Day
Cost: Free
Website: www.regattahotel.com.au

Settle into the Regatta Hotel for Australia Day with Triple J's Hottest 100 followed by 90 minutes of stand-up comedy, a backyard barbie and a party.

Plough Inn
Time: all day
Cost: Free
Website: www.ploughinn.com.au

The Plough Inn is celebrating their reopening after the Queensland floods with an Australia Day bash. This Brisbane icon will have live music and all our favourite Australia Day traditions.

Story Bridge Hotel- Australia Day Cockroach Races
Time: From 11am
Cost: Gold coin donation
Website: www.storybridgehotel.com.au

The annual Story Bridge Cockroach Races will kick off at 11am and the day will include a street stage with live bands, a dunking machine and the highlight of the day - cockroach races! Entry is by a gold coin donation which goes towards the Children's Variety Charity.

Caxton Hotel - Caxton Kilo Challenge
Time: 12 pm
Cost: Free
Website: www.caxton.com.au

Take the Caxton Kilo Challenge by ordering a kilo of steak in the Char Grill Restaurant from 12-3pm. Recover afterwards with giveaways in the bar and this year's Triple J Hottest 100.

South Bank Surf Club- Australia Day BBQ
Time: from 11am
Cost: Free entry. Bookings recommended
Website: www.southbanksurfclub.com.au

Relax and enjoy chef Ben O'Donoghue's famous BBQ dishes while listening to Triple J's Hottest 100. The person in the best Australia Day outfit will get lunch for free.

Breakfast Creek Hotel - Australia Day celebrations
Time: All day
Cost: Free entry
Website: www.breakfastcreekhotel.com

To celebrate reopening after the Queensland floods, the iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel will donate all of its Australia Day sales to the Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal.


Eagle Farm Raceway - Australia Day XXXX Gold Mates Day Out
Time: 10.30am
Cost: $15
Website: www.brc.com.au

Get into the Australia Day spirit and try your luck at the track for this Australia Day racing meet.

New Farm Park - Moonlight Cinema
Time: from 6pm
Cost: $16
Website: www.moonlight.com.au

Get outdoors and enjoy the action-packed, digital adventure Tron: LEGACY on Australia Day eve. Get in early to bag a beanbag and a picnic.

A to Z of Aussie Slang - Celebrate Australia Day

Understanding us Aussies can sometimes be a pretty tough ask for people who are not……….Aussies!

So, in keeping with the spirit of Australia Day here is a list of just some of the more popular slang words to help the uninitiated get through their next conversation with a “true blue” Aussie.

A
Ace! : Excellent! Very good!
Aerial pingpong : Australian Rules football (also referred to as Aussie Rules)
Amber fluid : beer
Ambo : ambulance, ambulance driver
Ankle biter : small child
Arvo : afternoon
Aussie (pron. Ozzie) : Australian
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Avos : avocados

B
Back of Bourke : a very long way away
Bail out : depart, usually angrily
Banana bender : a person from Queensland
Barbie : barbecue (noun)
Barrack : to cheer on (ie. cheer on your football team playing aerial pingpong )
Bastard : a term of endearment
Bathers : swimming costume
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Beaut, beauty : great, fantastic
Big Smoke : a big city, especially Sydney or Melbourne
Bikkie : biscuit (also "it cost big bikkies" - it was expensive)
Billy : teapot or container for boiling water.
Bingle : motor vehicle accident
Bitzer : mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that)
Bizzo : business ("mind your own bizzo")
Beyond the Black Stump: a long way away, the back of nowhere, the back of Bourke
Bloke : man, guy
Bloody : very (bloody hard yakka)
Bloody oath! : that's certainly true
Blowie : blow fly
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody who always relies on other people to do things or lend him things
Blue : fight ("he was having a blue with his wife")
Blue : nickname for someone (usually male) with red hair
Blue, make a : make a mistake
Bodgy : of inferior quality
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm
Bogan : person who takes little pride in his appearance, spends his days slacking and drinking beer
Bogged : Stuck in mud, deep sand (a vehicle).
Bonzer : great, ripper
Boomer : a large male kangaroo
Booze bus : police vehicle used for catching drunk drivers
Boozer : a pub
Bored shitless : very bored
Bottle shop : liquor shop; off-licence
Bottle-o : liquor shop; off-licence
Bottler : something excellent
Bottling, his blood's worth : he's an excellent, helpful bloke.
Brass razoo, he hasn't got a : he's very poor
Brekkie : breakfast
Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke
Brickie : bricklayer
Brisvegas : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brizzie : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brown-eyed mullet : a turd in the sea (where you're swimming!)
Brumby : a wild horse
Buck's night : stag party, male gathering the night before the wedding
Buckley's, Buckley's chance : no chance ("New Zealand stands Buckley's of beating Australia at football")
Budgie smugglers : men's bathing costume; speedo’s
Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also roo bar)
Bundy : short for Bundaberg, Queensland, and the brand of rum that's made there
Bush : the hinterland, the Outback, anywhere that isn't in town
Bush bash : long competitive running or motorcar race through the bush
Bush telly : campfire
Bushie : someone who lives in the Bush
BYO : unlicensed restaurant where you have to Bring Your Own grog, also similar party or barbecue

C
Cab Sav : Cabernet Sauvignon (a variety of wine grape)
Cactus : dead, not functioning ("this bloody washing machine is cactus")
Cane toad : a person from Queensland
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Cark it : to die, cease functioning
Cat's piss, as mean as : mean, stingy, uncharitable
Chewie : chewing gum
Chokkie : chocolate
Chook : a chicken
Chrissie : Christmas
Chuck a sickie : take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy
Chunder : vomit
Clacker : anus (from Latin cloaca = sewer)

Clayton's : fake, substitute
Cleanskin : Bottle of wine without a label. Usually bought in bulk by companies who then add their own personalised label and use the wine as e.g. gifts to clients
Cleanskin : cattle that have not been branded, earmarked or castrated.
Click : kilometre - "it's 10 clicks away"
Clucky : feeling broody or maternal
Coathanger : Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cobber : friend
Cockie : farmer (Farmers were called cockies in the early days of European settlement because, like the birds of the same name, they made their homes on the edges of permanent waterholes)
Cockie : cockatoo
Cockie : cockroach
Cockroach : a person from New South Wales
Coldie : a beer
Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident
Compo : Workers' Compensation pay
Cooee, not within : figuratively a long way away, far off - England weren't within cooee of beating Australia at cricket
Cooee, within : nearby - He lives within cooee of Sydney.
Cook (noun) : One's wife
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Counter lunch/Countery : pub lunch
Cozzie : swimming costume
Crack a fat : get an erection or get angry
Crack onto (someone) : to hit on someone, pursue someone romantically
Cranky : in a bad mood, angry
Cream (verb) : defeat by a large margin
Crook : sick, or badly made
Crow eater : a person from South Australia
Cubby house : Small, usually timber, house in the garden used as a children's plaything.
Cut lunch : sandwiches
Cut lunch commando : army reservist
Cut snake, mad as a : very angry

D
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Daks : trousers
Damper : bread made from flour and water
Date : arse[hole] ("get off your fat date")
Dead horse : Tomato sauce
Deadset : true, the truth
Dero : tramp, hobo, homeless person (from "derelict")
Dickhead : see "whacker"
Digger : a soldier
Dill : an idiot
Dingo's breakfast : a yawn, a leak and a good look round (i.e. no breakfast)
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Dipstick : a loser, idiot
Divvy van : Police vehicle used for transporting criminals. Named after the protective 'division' between the driver and the villains.
Dob (somebody) in : inform on somebody. Hence dobber, a tell-tale
Docket : a bill, receipt
Doco : documentary
Dog : unattractive woman
Dog's balls, stands out like : obvious
Dog's eye : meat pie
Dole bludger : somebody on social assistance when unjustified
Donger : penis
Doodle : penis
Doovalacky : used whenever you can't remember what something is called. Thingummyjig, whatsit.
Down Under : Australia and New Zealand
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Dropkick : see 'dipstick'
Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give you the drum")
Dummy, spit the : get very upset at something
Dunny : outside lavatory
Durry : tobacco, cigarette



E



Earbashing : nagging, non-stop chatter
Ekka : the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.
Exy : expensive

F
Face, off one's : drunk ("He was off his face by 6 o’clock")
Fair dinkum : true, genuine
Fair go : a chance ("give a bloke a fair go")
Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief (see also "sav")
Fairy floss : candy floss, cotton candy
Feral (n.) : a hippie
Figjam : "F*ck I'm good; just ask me". Nickname for people who have a very high opinion of themselves.
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, very busy
Flick : to give something or somebody the flick is to get rid of it or him/her
Flick it on : to sell something, usually for a quick profit, soon after buying it.
Fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway.
Footy : Australian Rules football (not that game played with a round ball)
Fossick : to prospect, e.g. for gold
Fossicker : prospector, e.g. for gold
Franger : condom
Fremantle Doctor : the cooling afternoon breeze that arrives in Perth from the direction of Freeo
Freo : Fremantle in Western Australia
Fruit loop : fool
Full : drunk



G



G'Day : hello!
Gabba : Wooloongabba - the Brisbane cricket ground
GAFA (pron. gaffa) : the big nothingness of the Australian Outback. Great Australian F**k All.
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.
Garbo, garbologist : municipal garbage collector
Give it a burl : try it, have a go
Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably ("The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a gobful")
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Going off : used of a night spot or party that is a lot of fun - "the place was really going off"
Good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth
Good onya : good for you, well done
Goog, as full as a : drunk. "Goog" is a variation of the northern English slangword "goggie" meaning an egg.
Greenie : environmentalist
Grinning like a fox : very happy, smugly satisfied
Grog : liquor, beer ("bring your own grog, you bludger")
Grouse (adj.) : great, terrific, very good
Grundies : undies, underwear (from Reg Grundy, a television person)
Gutful of piss : drunk, "he's got a gutful of piss"
Gyno : gynaecologist

H
Harold Holt, to do the : To bolt. (Also "to do the Harold")
Heaps : a lot, e.g. "thanks heaps", "(s)he earned heaps of money" etc.
Holy dooley! : an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar
Hoon : hooligan
Hooroo : goodbye

I

Icy pole : popsicle
Ice block : popsicle

J
Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand
Joey : baby kangaroo
Journo : journalist
Jug : electric kettle
Jumbuck : sheep

K
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock")
Kelpie : Australian sheepdog originally bred from Scottish collie
Kero : kerosene
Kindie : kindergarten
Knock : to criticise
Knock back : refusal (noun), refuse (transitive verb)
Knocker : somebody who criticises

L
Lair : a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behaviour, to dress up in flashy clothes, to renovate or dress up something in bad taste
Lair it up : to behave in a brash and vulgar manner
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you")
Lippy : lipstick
Lizard drinking, flat out like a : flat out, busy
Lob, lob in : drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed")
Lollies : sweets, candy
Longneck : 750ml bottle of beer in South Australia
Lucky Country, The : Australia, where else?
Lunch, who opened their? : OK, who farted?



M
Maccas (pron. "mackers") : McDonald's (the hamburger place)
Mallee bull, as fit as a : very fit and strong. The Mallee is very arid beef country in Victoria/South Australia.
Mate : buddy, friend
Mate's rate, mate's discount : cheaper than usual for a "friend"
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Metho : methylated spirits
Mexican : a person from south of the Queensland or New South Wales border
Mickey Mouse : inconsequential, frivolous or not very good!
Middy : 285 ml beer glass in New South Wales
Milk bar : corner shop that sells takeaway food
Milko : milkman
Mob : group of people, not necessarily troublesome
Mob : family or herd (?) of kangaroos
Mongrel : despicable person
Moolah : money
Mozzie : mosquito
Muddy : mud crab (a great delicacy)
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person
Mull : grass (the kind you smoke)
Muster : round up sheep or cattle
Mystery bag : a sausage

N
Nasho : National Service (compulsory military service – no longer in Australia – replaced by voluntary Army Reservists)
Naughty, have a : have sex
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia
Nipper : young surf lifesaver
No drama : same as 'no worries'
No worries : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Nuddy, in the : naked



O
Ocker : an unsophisticated person
Offsider : an assistant, helper
Old fella : penis
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
Op shop : opportunity shop, thrift store, place where second hand goods are sold.
Outback : interior of Australia
Oz : Australia!

P
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on"
Pav : Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian / New Zealand dessert
Perve (noun & verb) : looking lustfully at the opposite sex
Piece of piss : easy task
Pig's arse! : I don't agree with you
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Pink slip, get the : get the sack (from the colour of the termination form)
Piss : beer. Hence "hit the piss", "sink some piss"
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery!
Plonk : cheap wine
Pokies : poker machines, fruit machines, gambling slot machines
Polly : politician
Pom, pommy, pommie : an Englishman
Pommy bastard : an Englishman (see also 'bastard')
Pommy shower : using deodorant instead of taking a shower
Pommy's towel, as dry as a : very dry - based on the canard that Poms bathe about once a month
Porky : Lie, untruth (pork pie = lie)
Postie : postman, mailman
Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland and Victoria
Pozzy : position - get a good pozzy at the football stadium
Prezzy : present, gift



Q
Quid, make a : earn a living - "are you making a quid?"
Quid, not the full : of low IQ. [Historical note: 'quid' is slang for a pound. £1 became $2 when Australia converted to decimal currency]

R
Rack off : push off! get lost! get out of here! also "rack off hairy legs!".
Rage : party
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Rapt : pleased, delighted
Ratbag : mild insult
Raw prawn, to come the : to bullshit, to be generally disagreeable
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Rego : vehicle registration
Rellie or relo : family relative
Ridgy-didge : original, genuine
Right, she’ll be : it'll be all right
Right, that'd be : Accepting bad news as inevitable. ("I went fishing but caught nothing." "Yeah, that'd be right.")
Rip snorter : great, fantastic - "it was a rip snorter of a party"
Ripper : great, fantastic - "it was a ripper party"
Ripper, you little! : Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news
Road train : big truck with many trailers
Roadie : a beer you buy to take away with you
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Rollie : a cigarette that you roll yourself
Roo : kangaroo
Roo bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also bull bar)
Root (verb and noun) : synonym for f*ck in nearly all its senses: "I feel rooted"; "this washing machine is rooted"; "(s)he's a good root". A very useful word in fairly polite company.
Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
Rotten : drunk - "I went out last night and got rotten"
Rubbish (verb) : to criticize

S
Salute, Aussie : brushing flies away
Salvos, the : Salvation Army, bless them
Sandgroper : a person from Western Australia
Sanger : a sandwich
Sav : saveloy (see also "fair suck of the sav!")
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Scratchy : instant lottery ticket
Screamer : party lover; "two pot screamer" - somebody who gets drunk on very little alcohol
Servo : petrol station
Shag on a rock, stands out like a : very obvious
Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing
She'll be right : it'll turn out okay
Sheepshagger : A New Zealander
Sheila : a woman
Shit house (adj.) : of poor quality, unenjoyable ("this car is shit house", "the movie was shit house")
Shit house (noun) : toilet, lavatory
Shonky : dubious, underhanded. E.g. a shonky practice, shonky business etc.
Shoot through : to leave
Shout : turn to buy - a round of drinks usually ("it's your shout")
Show pony : someone who tries hard, by his dress or behaviour, to impress those around him.
Sickie : day off sick from work (chuck a sickie = take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy!)
Skite : boast, brag
Skull/Skol (a beer) : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath
Slab : a carton of 24 bottles or cans of beer
Smoko : smoke or coffee break
Snag : a sausage
Sook : person or animal who is soft, tame, inoffensive. Hence sooky (adj.)
Spag bol : spaghetti bolognese
Spewin' : very angry
Spiffy, pretty spiffy : great, excellent
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something
Sprung : caught doing something wrong
Spunk : a good looking person (of either sex)
Squizz (noun) : look - "take a squizz at this"
Stickybeak : nosy person
Stoked : very pleased
Strewth : exclamation, mild oath ("Strewth, that Chris is a bonzer bloke")
Strides : trousers
Stubby : a 375ml. beer bottle
Stubby holder : polystyrene insulated holder for a stubby
Stuffed, I feel : I'm tired
Stuffed, I'll be : expression of surprise
Sunbake : sunbathe
Sunnies : sunglasses
Surfies : people who go surfing - usually more often than they go to work!
Swag : rolled up bedding etc. carried by a swagman
Swaggie : swagman



T
Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer
Taswegian : derogatory term for a person from Tasmania
Tea : supper
Technicolor yawn : vomit
Tee-up : to set up (an appointment)
Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals
Throw-down : small bottle of beer which you can throw down quickly.
Tickets, to have on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself
Tinny : can of beer
Tinny : small aluminium boat
Togs : swim suit
Too right! : definitely!
Top End : far north of Australia
Trackie daks/dacks : tracksuit pants
Trackies : track suit
Troppo, gone : to have escaped to a state of tropical madness; to have lost the veneer of civilisation after spending too long in the tropics.
Trough lolly : the solid piece of perfumed disinfectant in a men's urinal
Truckie : truck driver
True blue : patriotic
Tucker : food
Tucker-bag : food bag
Turps : turpentine, alcoholic drink
Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge
Two up : gambling game played by spinning two coins simultaneously

U
Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.
Uni : university
Unit : flat, apartment
Up oneself : have a high opinion of oneself - "he's really up himself"
Up somebody, get : to rebuke somebody - "the boss got up me for being late"
Useful as tits on a bull : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing - "he, she or it is about as useful as tits on a bull" etc. etc.
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck

V
Veggies : vegetables
Vee dub : Volkswagen
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Vejjo : vegetarian
Vinnie's : St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels)

W
WACA (pron. whacker) : Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground
Waggin' school : playing truant
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found
Weekend warrior : army reservist
Whacker, whacka : Idiot; somebody who talks drivel; somebody with whom you have little patience; a dickhead
Whinge : complain
White pointers : topless (female) sunbathers
Whiteant (verb) : to criticise something to deter somebody from buying it. A car dealer might whiteant another dealer's cars or a real estate salesman might whiteant another agent's property
Wobbly : excitable behaviour ("I complained about the food and the waiter threw a wobbly")
Wobbly boot on, he's got the : drunk
Wog : flu or trivial illness
Wombat : somebody who eats, roots and leaves (see also root)
Woop Woop : invented name for any small unimportant town - "he lives in Woop Woop"
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport
Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal

X
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland

Y
Yabber : talk (a lot)
Yabby : inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia (Cherax destructor)
Yakka : work (noun)
Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights")
Yobbo : an uncouth person

Z
Zack : sixpence (5 cents) - "it isn't worth a zack", "he hasn't got a zack"

Australia Day provides communities, families and friends the oppertunity to get together and celebrate

Australia Day provides communities, families and friends the oppertunity to get together and celebrate in a wide range of ways.

The following is a list of some of the more creative things you, your family or your community can do in the lead up to and on Australia Day itself.

Anthem Singer competition (for Flag Raising/Citizenship ceremony etc.)
Photography competition (local library may display, local paper may print, local radio may add to their website)
Colouring in competition for small children (local paper may run this )
Australia Day Trivia Quiz (possible to team up with a local club, could run in conjunction with local paper)
Australia Day Crossword (could run in conjunction with local paper)
Comedy debate (best before Australia Day rather than on the day itself, so it can be a bit irreverent)
Poster design
‘Best Australian Sound Picture’ music from natural objects (sticks, gum leaf, grass, seedpods)—small scale event for a street corner maybe
Most creative use of flags (See Flag and Flag Raising Tool) such as bike decoration, mural, mobile, cake decoration, apron, costume
‘Old sports’ oriented Australia Day activities focusing on local (benign!) rivalries—between towns/localities/sporting groups/clubs/schools/ businesses/
Tug of war
‘Fire fighter’ relay
Tractor pulls
Human machines/Iron man/Iron woman
Water sports
Debates
Sports orienteering
Best Australia Day Hat
Best Historical costume
Best Australia Day Contemporary costume
Best Under 10s dress up
Innovative use of Australiana, the flag (within appropriate guidelines for representation of the flag) or other means of interpreting the theme
Bring a new friend to the Breakfast
Bring a grandparent to the Flag Raising
‘Adopt’ a new Australian on the day
Demonstration /peer teaching/workshops on culturally specific musical instrument
Demonstration /peer teaching/workshops on a culturally specific or game or sport
‘Spicing it up’ using the mortar and pestle (workshop or demonstration)
‘Find it and try it’ bush tucker (needs Indigenous guide)
Community poster with images made by various people (theme suggested) using charcoal of a burnt stick or finger painting or bark
‘Aussie Voices’ concert with multicultural performers
Youth bands are always a good start
Local idol talent quest
‘Rap up Australia’ competition
Air guitar competition
Guitar design competition (specify Australian component—use cardboard guitar template)
Young vs Old events (trivia, local Australia Day version of Spicks and Specs, knitting a scarf)
‘Still call Australia Home’ construction challenge with found materials—construct a shed or small building
Multicultural food stalls
Community picnic / barbeques
Cooking demonstrations
Cooking competitions
family concerts
concerts targeting particular groups
concerts catering for specific interests (rock concert, country and western, folk and blues) Need to involve people experienced at doing this