The true Australian identity is a reflection of all that is good in everyone – it has a changeable expressive human face that seems to enjoy a laugh, with an ability to hope and contribute to a better future.
Australians (or Aussies) have been inventive in adapting their cultural roots to suit the new environment, climate and resources of the country. Modern society is asserting a confident and unique identity through its diversity, language(s), architecture, 'Australianised' cuisine, bush identity and sporting prowess.
Australians traditionally had a national identity that developed during the 19th and early 20th century that was complemented by a British identity to form a larger identity. 2. The 'end of empire' disrupted the British identity and created a vacuum in the wider Australian identity.
Australians are usually humble, quite welcoming, polite and contact seeking when meeting strangers. Do not be surprised that strangers greet you, look you in the eyes and start a conversation with you in situations that you perhaps never had expected someone to do in your home country.
Aussie's are known for being open-hearted and open-minded and think that everyone has the right to get a fair go. This can be seen in universal support of publicly funded health care and education systems.
Australian national identity has an elusive quality, partly because it is constantly changing and partly because of variations of cultural loyalty in Australia at any one time and from one generation to the next.
Small Business Owner from Adelaide Virendranathi Tripathi said, "Being Australian means: believing in a multi-cultural society that embraces people from all ethnicity (regardless of their faith, culture, race, and skin colour), freedom with responsibility, being inclusive, egalitarian spirit and fair-go." He thinks ...
It is considered impolite to ask a direct question about a person's salary or wealth. Inquiring about someone's weight or age is also highly inappropriate in many situations. Spitting in public is rude. If there is a line for something, always queue and wait for your turn.
Let's face it, most of us are suckers for a sexy accent. According to a recent survey conducted by the popular dating website MissTravel.com, over 2000 American men and women regard Australian accents as one of the sexiest in the world.
There is no consistent standard for verifying identity. For most purposes, an Australian drivers licence or Australian photo card will suffice; however, for more sophisticated transactions (e.g. applying for a passport or opening a bank account), each institution tends to have its own rules.
Australia is globally famous for its natural wonders, wide-open spaces, beaches, deserts, "The Bush", and "The Outback". Australia is one of the world's most highly urbanised countries; it's well known for its attractive mega cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
It has seven points representing the unity of the six states and the territories of the Commonwealth of Australia. The star is also featured on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The Southern Cross is shown on the flag in white.
Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent, with the least fertile soils. It is a megadiverse country, and its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes and climates, with deserts in the centre, tropical rainforests in the north-east, and mountain ranges in the south-east.
Bugger off/me
“Bugger” is common in both Aussie and British slang, and vaguely refers to someone or something that is annoying. Calling someone a bugger can be used affectionately or derogatorily. The general expletive can be used in any situation, and roughly means,“F*** off/me” or “Well, I'll be damned!”
cocky. A small-scale farmer; (in later use often applied to) a substantial landowner or to the rural interest generally. In Australia there are a number of cockies including cow cockies, cane cockies and wheat cockies. Cocky arose in the 1870s and is an abbreviation of cockatoo farmer.
“Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the ...
The Australian flag has the nation's vote for being the image or symbol about which we are most proud. 95% of Australians take pride in the national flag, which is enjoying increasing popularity, with half (50%) saying that they are extremely proud.
Today, our identity is made up of many cultures: from the city to the bush, across our towns, suburbs and streets. Understanding our differences and celebrating our shared values helps us achieve social cohesion.
This essay relates to the ideas presented in We Can Be Heroes because like the mockumentary, it explores the notion of what it means to be a true Australian. The essay acknowledges that there is no one face to represent a nation's identity and that we value higher qualities when we decide on the merit of human beings.
Flying the flag
Do not fly the flag upside down, even as a signal of distress. Information on the protocols for displaying and folding the flag can be found in the Australian flags booklet, which is also available from your Federal Member of Parliament or Senator.