Boomerang Australia Studies

FOOD FOR THOUGHTS…

Some thoughts on the Australian Culture.
(Note this is not a definitive all encompassing coverage of the issue)

Some will no doubt read this and try to jump in and say that I back the policy of Multiculturalism. Well I don't... and that would be disingenuous of them to do so. Mutliculturalism encourages cultural diversity, I prefer encouraging cultural unity. A nation should be united... not divided. Division does not strengthen a society.

No doubt, when I remark on our "Anglo" roots, and that is inevitable, those same people will again jump in and say that proves we have no "Australian" culture... and that it is in fact another distortion of the truth.

One would not say that American culture is English culture, yet the US like Australia had primarily British heritage as it roots. America is not that much older than Australia either so that old flawed argument about us being a young country and having no culture... also holds no water. In fact, no country in the "Anglosphere" has an identical culture. (The Anglosphere is a group of English-speaking nations which share historical, political, and ethnocultural characteristics rooted in or attributed to the historical experience of the British people. Primarily; Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States, India, New Zealand, and South Africa.)

Is Australian culture Indian? Canadian? American? South African? etc.... The answer is clearly no. Yet we all share similarities and people from these cultures would find it easier to "fit in" to each others societies because of that sharing...

This brings us to the oft avoided... what is culture?

For the purpose of this piece, I consider the dictionary definition (below) completely appropriate.

cul·ture ( P ) Pronunciation Key (klchr) n.
a. The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.
b. These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture; the culture of poverty.
c. These patterns, traits, and products considered with respect to a particular category, such as a field, subject, or mode of expression: religious culture in the Middle Ages; musical culture; oral culture.
d. The predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the functioning of a group or organization.

Australian culture then would be those aspects and characteristics that have developed on the Australian continent and those in a form readily distinguishable from other National cultures. It would also therefore be the dominant culture of Australia and also be recognised in various "Australian" stereotypes.

I personally look at Australia as being Bi-Cultural...

We have Australia's "Indigenous" culture and Australia's "Western" culture.

Both are recognised by the majority of Australians as being... Australian. Recognition of this fact ...was displayed to the world at the 2000 Sydney Olympic, opening and closing ceremonies. The dominant culture though, the one seen and recognised world wide as being our national identity would be the Australian "Western" Culture.

Australia's national culture has obviously developed over time... and continues to develop as all cultures do. Australia's Indigenous culture comes primarily from the Aborigines and it's Western culture primarily from the British. Both cultures have over the last 200 years impacted on and shaped each other. Australia's physical lanscape and climate have also impacted on our nation's cultural development.

During its formative years, "Australia" was basically a penal colony for British Convicts. These Convicts and many of those that came with them, became the first urban Australians and they subsequently laid todays cultural foundations. They shaped Australia's cultural evolution. For those suffering Anglophobia, and or cultural cringe, there is a stigma attached to our history,one which seems to inspire an obsession with foreign cultures and multiculturalism. They even attempt to deny the past, some high-moral-grounders, and cultural/social snobs, seeing it as a cultural "stain."

In fact our 'umble beginnings, IMO, have had a bigger impact on our culture than many recognise or realise. The Australian culture has historically been one, forged on the hardship of early settlers and later on the heroism of the Australian soldiers. "Mateship", or loyal fraternity, has been a central tenet. Traditionally, Australians have viewed themselves as having an egalitarian society, our obsession with the "fair go" is a direct reaction to the treatment handed handed out to our convict founders, by their "motherland."

The oft cited "tall poppy syndrome" and our disdain for the pompous, egotistical and authoritarian, is also a throwback to our past. Ever wonder why Australians nearly always barrack for the under-dog and not the most favoured?

To some people, the land Downunder, seems indeed to have things completely upside-down.


Australians being Australians, aren't usually aware of the achievements of their academics.... yet they will recognise; sportsmen, dead horses and bushrangers. They favour humility and show disdain for braggards, here they favour the "quiet achiever"... Australians aren't that big on ostentatious displays of patriotism, it's usually considered embarassing. They forget the words of their national anthem..... yet it would be wrong to say they are not patriotic. If they like you, they won't give you compliments. Instead, they will call you names, (sometimes derogatory) and laugh at you whenever you do or say something stupid. If you have red hair, they might cal you "Bluey." If you are tall, you might be called "Shorty." If you are quiet, you might actually be "Rowdy."

These are just a few things that people from other cultures find odd and perplexing, but to Australians are completely understandable. Even to those Australians that like to distance themselves from their fellow Australians.

Language is one of the most recognisable cultural traits of Australians. No one here would mistake an Indian accent for an Australian accent or an American accent. In fact when "Mad Max" was made it had to be dubbed for American release, apparently they found it too hard to understand left in Australian English. Not only do Australians speak with an accent readily distinguishable from those not from Australia (even if they are unaware of it), they also have their own dialect/slang - STRINE. (STRINE: The term derives from a phonetic rendition of the pronunciation of the word "Australian" in an exaggerated Australian accent. It was the subject of humorous columns published in the Sydney Morning Herald from the mid Sixties. Subsequently the term is sometimes used as a synonym for Australian English, usually pejoratively.)

Some examples;
(Most adult Australians probably use or recognise these)
Argue the toss: disagree, dispute a decision.
Arvo: afternoon
Barbie: barbecue
Be with you in a tick: attend to you shortly, in a moment, without delay.
Chokkie: chocolate
Chook: a chicken
Chuck a sickie: take the day off from work when you're well
Digger: an Australian soldier Dinkum,
fair dinkum: true, real, genuine e.g. I'm a dinkum Aussie; is she/he fair dinkum?
Galah: fool
Give it a burl: try it, have a go
Jackaroo: a male station hand , an Australian cowboy (a station is a big farm or grazing property)
Joey: baby kangaroo Lend of: to have a to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on Lizard drinking, flat out like a : very busy Mate: buddy, friend
No-hoper: somebody who'll never do well
Not the full quid: not bright intellectually
No worries: Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (usually the response of someone who can't see the implications of a situtation)
Ocker : an unsophisticated person;
an Australian Pash: a long passionate kiss
Pav, Pavlova: Australian dessert using meringue, cream and fruit
Piker: Someone who doesn't have a go at things, cowardly
Stickybeak: nosy person
Strewth: exclamation, mild oath
Walkabout : gone on a trip or unable to be found
Yobbo: an uncouth person

Someone mentioned that they would start discussing culture by " looking at scientists, academics, politicians, or writers" a typical yet flawed elitist attitude. But one that does provided some cultural benchmarks. here then is a brief look at "The Arts" and more... in Australian culture...

Art

Australia's contemporary arts are as unique and diverse as the society and continent they come from. Since the early 1970s, Aboriginal artists have developed new modes of expression that have brought their art and culture to international attention. The transfer of Dreaming designs from sand paintings to boards and canvases by Pintupi elders in the central desert community of Papunya in 1971 was just one of many artistic initiatives that have created powerful new connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Artists such as Albert Namitjira and others have also created art that remains acclaimed today.
Artists like; Namatjira, Nolan, Boyd, McCubbin, Done and others have flown the flag for Australia around the world. Oh and let's not forget Pro Hart whom finally may be getting the recognition he so rightly deserves. (After being shunned by the cultural elites).

Performing Arts.
Australia's performing arts are full of energy, originality and wit. Indigenous companies like Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre are acclaimed around the world for innovative, contemporary work that draws on a deep well of traditional ceremony and performance, along with talented individual artists such as; Choreographer Stephen Page works both with traditional Aboriginal communities and the Australian Ballet; actor Deborah Mailman has won international acclaim for her stage and film performances; and Christine Anu has incorporated Torres Strait Islander traditions into her music and dance, as well as starring in commercial music theatre productions.
Major companies such as the Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company tour regularly, with a diverse repertoire of Australian and international work. Australian choreographers and dancers such as; graeme Murphy, Lucy Guerin and Gideon Obarzanek produce cutting-edge work that is finding new audiences everywhere.

Music

Music Australian musicians have been feted the world over with virtuosos such as John Williamson leading the way. The Australian Chamber Orchestra has been acclaimed as the best such orchestra in the world and every State capital city has its own professional symphony orchestra. Artists such as violinist Richard Tognetti, pianists Roger Woodward and Geoffrey Tozer and conductor Simone Young are familiar faces in the world's concert halls. Australia's symphony orchestras have carved out a central role in Australia's cultural history. Other organisations such as Musica Viva promote a wide range of classical and serious contemporary music events. Percy Grainger, Larry Sitsky, Peter Sculthorpe, Richard Meale and Ross Edwards are just some of the Australian composers who have made their mark internationally. Opera Australia, the national company, is the third busiest opera company in the world and has as its home the spectacular Sydney Opera House. The legacy of operatic legends such as Dame Nellie Melba and Dame Joan Sutherland has been handed down to stars such as Deborah Riedel, Lisa Gasteen and Yvonne Kenny. And we haven't even touched on contemporary/popular music. 

Literature

Australian literature is one of the most vital branches of contemporary English language writing. Australian writers make a central contribution to the understanding and definition of Australian culture. Since Patrick White won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1973, Australians have won many international awards, among them novelists Thomas Keneally and Peter Carey (the prestigious Booker Prize) and poet Les Murray (the Petrarch Prize). Helen Garner, David Malouf, Elizabeth Jolley, Archie Weller and Tim Winton are among other Australian prize-winning prose writers. Leading poets of past and present include A.B. ('Banjo') Paterson, A.D. Hope, Judith Wright, Bruce Dawe and Geoff Page. International bestsellers include Morris West, Colleen McCullough and Bryce Courtenay are just a few of the writers who have established international reputations over the last 20 years. Writers like Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Sally Morgan have brought experiences of Aboriginal people into the minds of non-Indigenous Australians.

Cinema

Australians made the world's first feature film. Since then, the highest industry accolades, such as Academy Awards and nominations, have been won by Australian films and actors in increasing numbers since the 1940s. More recently, Academy Awards were won by The Piano (1993), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Babe (1995) and Shine (1996). Film-makers such as Peter Weir and Bruce Beresford, actors such as Geoffrey Rush, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Judy Davis and Cate Blanchett, and cinematographers such as Dean Semmler, among many others, are now major figures in the global film community. From the cramped, modest studios used in the 1970s and '80s, Australia now boasts a
number of fine studio complexes. American studio films, such as Mission: Impossible II (2000), and the larger Australian productions are now able to use state-of-the-art local facilities. These days the world wide film industry comes to Australia for expertise and talent. The recent hit "Wolf Creek" is unmistakably Australian. No one would ever mistake it for taking place anywhere else in the world.

Architecture

Architecture. I'm not right up on this these days but I do recall that most of our early major architecture was basically British in nature. Francis Greenway (Architect-Forger-Architect) was Australia's first major Architect. Today’s contemporary architecture has a global feel to it. Throughout the world, architecture is influenced by designers and techniques from all countries. The Sydney Opera House, an Australian architectural icon, was designed by an overseas architect. Bradfield's Sydney Harbour Bridge is similar to some bridges found in Britain, only it was built on a much grander scale. One architectural design I'm certain we can lay claim to... influence almost exclusively by the environment and climate for which it was designed and built was the "Queenslander." The term not only is recognisable for a particular style of residential property but also for a style of Australian architecture. Queenslander (or Old Queenslander) architecture is an architectural style common throughout Queensland. Odd that. That would make it Australian. It is also found in the northern parts of New South Wales. The style was common from the 1840s through to the 1960s and used mainly for residential construction, although some commercial edifices such as hotels were also built in this style. Queenslander buildings are identifiable by large verandahs and large double doors which open onto these verandahs, stumps rising the house above ground level (particularly in older houses), metal roofs typically of corrugated design and are always constructed of mostly wood. In the days before air-conditioning, it was designed to increase air-flow throughout the house by way of large doors and windows, which lined up internally. This is so that the air literally passes through the house, rather than entering through one window and stagnating in the room. Roofs are generally made of corrugated tin or iron, and external walls are sided with timber, often painted in mild pastel colours. Raising the house on stumps meant the under floor area could be used for an old form of refrigeration. A net would hang from under the house, away from the sun, drenched in water. Meats and milk could be stored there for short periods of time (up to a day or two) and kept relatively cool. Floors are generally wooden throughout the house, as is the rest of the construction. Windows are often louvred (to allow for air circulation during Queensland's frequent rainstorms), frosted (to diffuse and soften the harsh tropical sunlight), or both. Commercial buildings and houses that were built by wealthier people, often featured elaborate wrought iron ornamentation such as balustrades. Typically, this design is most suited to the sub-tropical climate of Queensland, an area with average temperatures in the range of 23-27 degrees Celsius (though much hotter in summer). Community awareness of urban heritage has seen local governments implement conservation measures to protect the unique 'tin and timber' character of neighbourhoods and towns dominated by Queenslander architecture. While master-planned housing estates are indistinguishable from those in other states, many custom-
built homes are designed in a more modern version of the Queenslander style, particularly holiday houses in coastal areas. The style has again in NSW recently had a revival of sorts with various designs popping up in the more expensive end of the residential/rural/semi-rural market. 

The Inventive Aussie

Necessity they say is the Mother of Invention and Australians do strike many firts when it comes to Invention: 1838 Pre-paid postage - Colonial Postmaster-General of New South Wales, James Raymond introduced the world's first pre-paid postal system. 1843 Grain stripper - John Ridley and John Bull of South Australia developed the world's first grain stripper that cut the crop then removed and placed the grain into bins. 1856 Refrigerator - Using the principal of vapour compression, James Harrison produced the world's first practical refrigerator. He was commissioned by a brewery to build a machine that cooled beer. 1858 Football - In 1858 Tom Will and Henry Harrison wrote the first ten rules of Football, thus becoming the first people in the world to codify a kicking-ball game. These rules predate those of Rugby, Soccer and Gridiron. Football may have been inspired by the Aboriginal jumping/kicking game of Marn Grook. 1874 The underwater torpedo - Invented by Louis Brennan, the torpedo had two propellers, rotated by wires which were attached to winding engines on the shore station. By varying the speed at which the two wires were extracted, the torpedo could be steered to the left or right by an operator on the shore. 1876 Stump jump plough- Robert and Clarence Bowyer Smith developed a plough which could jump over stumps and stones, enabling newly-cleared land to be cultivated. 1879 Refrigeration - Credited with the manufacture of the first artificial ice, Eugene Nicolle and Thomas Sutcliffe Mort developed shipboard refrigeration that resulted in the export of meat from Australia to Great Britain. 1889 Electric Drill - Arthur James Arnot, patented the world's first electric drill on 20 August 1889 while he was an employee of the Union Electric Company in Melbourne. He designed it primarily to drill rock and to dig coal. 1894 First powered flight - Perhaps inspired by the boomerang, Lawrence Hargrave discovered that curved surfaces lift more than flat ones. He subsequently built the world's first box-kite, hitched four together, added an engine and flew five metres. Hargrave corresponded freely with other aviation pioneers, including the Wright Brothers. But unlike the Americans who monopolised their ideas, Hargrave never patented his. Because it promised public access, Hargrave left all his research to the Munich Museum. Had Hargrave gained local support to further develop his ideas and not been so generous in sharing his ideas with other aviation pioneers, he probably would have been the first person in the world to achieve sustained and controlled powered flight. 1897 Differential gears - David Shearer of South Australia built a steam car with a differential inside left rear wheel hub. 1903 Froth flotation process- The process of separating minerals from rock by flotation was developed by Charles Potter and Guillaume Delprat of New South Wales. 1906 Feature film - The world's first feature length film, The Story of the Kelly Gang,
was a little over an hour long. 1906 Surf life-saving reel - The first surf life-saving reel in the world was demonstrated at Bondi Beach on 23 December 1906 by its designer Lester Ormsby. 1910 Humespun process -The Humespun process was developed by Walter Hume of Humes Ltd for making concrete pipes of high strength and low permeability. The process revolutionised pipe manufacture in 1910 and has since been used around the world. 1912 The tank - A South Australian named Lance de Mole submitted a proposal, to the British War Office, for a 'chain-rail vehicle which could be easily steered and carry heavy loads over rough ground and trenches'. The British war office liked the idea but then developed the tank themselves without paying royalties. 1913 Automatic totalisator -The world's first automatic totalisator for calculating horse-racing bets was made by Sir George Julius. 1917 Aspro - A pain reliever based on aspirin was developed in Melbourne by George Nicholas. By 1940 it had become the world's most widely used headache and pain treatment. 1922 Vegemite - One of the world's richest sources of vitamin B, vegemite was invented by Dr. Cyril P. Callister. It is made by the autolysis of expired brewer's yeast: a process where the yeast's own enzymes break it down. 1928 Flying Doctor Service - Reverend John Flynn founded the world's first Aerial Medical Service in 1928. 1934 Ute- The utility vehicle, with a front like a car and a rear like a truck was designed by Lewis Brandt at the Ford Motor Company in Geelong, Victoria. 1940 Zinc Cream - This white sun block made from zinc oxide was developed by the Fauldings pharmaceutical company. 1942 Transverse folding stroller - Designed by Harold Cornish, the sturdy, lightweight design of his Stoway Strollers made life easier for many parents using public transport as it could be folded and placed under a tram seat. 1944 Antibiotic penicillin- Produced by Howard Florey with help from a Pommie named Ernst Chain. 1945 The Hills Hoist - A rotary clothes line with a winding mechanism allowing the frame to be lowered and raised with ease. Invented by Lance Hill. 1952 Victor mower - by Mervyn Victor Richardson, the two-stroke petrol lawn mower with rotary blades revolutionised mowing world wide. 1952 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer -Atomic absorption spectrophotometer is a complex analytical instrument incorporating micro-computer electronics and precision optics and mechanics, used in chemical analysis to determine low concentrations of metals in a wide variety of substances. It was first developed by Sir Alan Walsh of the CSIRO. 1953 Solar hot water - Developed by R N Morse at the CSIRO 1957 Flame ionisation detector -The flame ionisation detector is one of the most accurate instruments ever developed for the detection of emissions. It was invented by Ian McWilliam. The instrument, which can measure one part in 10 million, has been used in chemical analysis in the petrochemical industry, medical and biochemical research, and in the monitoring of the environment. 1957 Trousers with a permeant crease - The process for producing permanently creased fabric was invented by Dr Arthur Farnworth of the CSIRO.
1958 Black box flight recorder - The 'black box' voice and instrument data recorder was invented by Dr David Warren in Melbourne. 1961 Ultrasound - David Robinson and George Kossoff's work at the Australian Department of Health, resulted in the first commercially practical water path ultrasonic scanner in 1961. 1965 Inflatable escape slide - The inflatable aircraft escape slide which doubles as a raft was invented by Jack Grant of Qantas. 1965 Wine cask -Invented by Thomas Angrove, the wine cask is a cardboard box housing a plastic container which collapses as the wine is drawn off, thus preventing contact with air. 1970 Variable rack and pinion steering - The variable ratio rack and pinion steering in motor vehicles was invented by Australian engineer, Arthur Bishop. 1972 Orbital internal combustion engine - The orbital combustion process engine was invented by engineer Ralph Sarich of Perth, Western Australia. 1972- Instream analysis - To speed-up analysis of metals during the recovery process, which used to take up to 24 hours, Amdel Limited developed an on-the-spot analysis equipment called the In-Stream Analysis System, for the processing of copper, zinc, lead and platinum - and the washing of coal. This computerised system allowed continuous analysis of key metals and meant greater productivity for the mineral industry worldwide. 1978 Plastic injection moulding software -Engineers at Moldflow Pty Ltd revolutionised the plastic injection process with a new computer aided engineering software, that simulated the injection moulding process and offered a design strategy to evaluate, refine and optimise successive simulations. The technique has been used widely in the automotive, white goods, computer, packaging, communications, aeronautical and photographic industries. 1979 Race-cam - Race Cam was developed by Geoff Healey, an engineer with Australian Television Network Seven in Sydney. The tiny lightweight camera is used in sports broadcasts and provides viewers with spectacular views of events such as motor racing, which are impossible with conventional cameras 1979 Bionic ear - The cochlear implant was invented by Professor Graeme Clark of the University of Melbourne. 1982 The dual flush toilet - As dunnies have a celebrated status in Australia, it is apt that Australia has taken a central role in their evolution. In 1982, the dual flush toilet was responsible for savings in excess of 32000 litres of water per household a year. Pretty important in the world's dries inhabited continent. 1980 Wave-piercing catamarans - The high speed catamarans were developed by Phillip Hercus and Robert Clifford of Incat in Tasmania. 1983 Winged Keel - Ben Lexen designed a winged keel that helped Australia II end the American's 132 ownership of the America's cup. The keel gave the yacht better steering and manoeuvrability in heavy winds. 1984 Baby Safety Capsule - Babies in a car crash used to bounce around like a soccer ball. In 1984, for the first time babies had a harness for their safe transportation in cars. 1986 Gene shears - The discovery of gene shears was made by CSIRO scientists, Wayne Gerlach and Jim Haseloff. 1992 Multi-focal contact lens- The world's first multi-focal contact lens was invented by optical research scientist, Stephen Newman in Queensland.
1992 Supersonic combustion - The University of Queensland demonstrated the world's first supersonic combustion in an atmospheric flight test at Woomera on July 30, 2002. The craft reached speeds of more than Mach 8, or 8 times the speed of sound. 1993 Scramjet - The University of Queensland reported for the first time the development of a scramjet that achieved more thrust than drag. 1995 EXELGRAM - The world's most sophisticated optical anti-counterfeiting technology was developed by the CSIRO. 1995 - Jindalee Radar System - The United States of America spent $11 billion developing an aeroplane that could not be detected by radar. Scientists at the CSIRO then concluded that if the plane could not be detected, perhaps the turbulance it makes passing through air could be. $1.5 million later, the Jindalee Radar system had transformed the stealth bomber into nothing more than an unusual looking aircraft.

Sport

Sport as a Cultural identifier.

I previously mentioned the Olympics. Considering it's megre population Australia and Australians have excelled at sports. Sport has been a central part of the Australian experience since the country was first colonised. More than the Arts and other "high - culture" endeavours Sport is a major part of the Australians ethos. Sport is culture, and nowhere more so than in Australia

The following from the SMH...
Sport is culture, and nowhere more so than in Australia

Footy, racing and the arts can occupy the same field, despite recent claims to the contrary, writes Richard Cashman.

In a parting shot, the retiring chief conductor and artistic director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Edo de Waart, reiterated a time-worn furphy that sport and the arts compete for public attention in Australia, and that the popularity of sport is detrimental to the arts. He called for greater federal funding of the arts. Such thinking perpetuates the myth that sport and the arts exist as separate cultural ghettos, whereas they overlap at many points. Sport and play, according to the Danish scholar Sfren Damkjr, are sensuous forms related to art. The historian Manning Clark, for instance, regarded Australian football as the ballet of the working class. Many Australian artists have been intrigued by the rich and vibrant culture that is Australian sport. S.T. Gill depicted a boxing contest on the Victorian goldfields, Russell Drysdale captured two laconic bush cricketers, Arthur Streeton painted an Australian football match, Banjo Paterson was a punter-poet who was a keen student of the turf, Max Dupain photographed Australia's unique beach culture and playwright David Williamson wrote The Club, a classic play based on the Collingwood Football Club. The Melbourne Cup, for instance, is more than a horse race. It is a theatrical occasion involving play and display. It is an occasion for celebration and even excess; it is a gambling spectacle that incorporates the Australian myth of egalitarianism; it is a national festival that is idiosyncratically Australian. Sport has long played an important social and cultural role in Australia, providing a form
of social cement which binds communities and creates broader imagined communities. Sport has helped promote our symbols, emblems and colours, based on Australian flora and fauna, and has contributed to a burgeoning national consciousness. Sport played a role in the coming of Federation and in the process of nation-making after 1901. Many who subscribe to the sports versus arts dichotomy contend that sport, unlike the arts, contributes nothing worthwhile to Australian culture, that sport is momentary and ephemeral whereas the arts are worthwhile and enduring. However, sport has enriched the Australian language and added to its humour. It has developed a rich celebrity culture as well as revered sites and traditions. Australian sporting knowledge and expertise, coaches, horses and a host of other products are earning an increasing amount of export dollars for the country. De Waart's attack on sport is counter-productive. It will only perpetuate the view that the arts are the monopoly of a privileged minority, the well-educated and the affluent. Going to the Federal Government with cap in hand is not the solution. Those engaged in the arts should take a leaf out of the book of the sports promoters, to work out alternative ways of marketing the arts and tapping into wider audiences in an age of new media, globalisation and changing demographics. There is also a need in the arts community for serious analysis of the factors that inhibit the partial acceptance of the arts in the public. Greater public support will translate into increased federal funding. The advance of the arts should not be linked to any challenge of sport's sway - they can go hand in hand. The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympics was an artistic and sporting achievement which drew on the talents of organisers Ric Birch and David Atkins, theatre director Richard Wherrett, choreographer Meryl Tankard and many others. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Simone Young, also featured. The Olympics also spawned a clever satire, The Games, beforehand, and the popular comedy The Dream during the Games. David Headon, in The Best Ever Sports History Writing, argued that the view that sport is not culture, or at best low culture, should be consigned to the dustbin of cultural cringe history. Sport in Australia just might be more deeply and meaningfully cultural than in any other country. Richard Cashman is an associate professor in history at the University of NSW. His most recent book is Sport in the National Imagination (Walla Walla Press). Remember the America's Cup in 1983? What other country has had their Prime Minister say; "I tell you what, any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a b u m". What other country has as it's Prime Minister a die-hard Cricket tragic? 

Here are some quotes from some well known identities...

"I think you are maybe the most sporting country in the world" Olympic President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Sunday Telegraph, 16 January 1999

"At the time of writing, Australia (with a population of eighteen million, remember) are world cricket champions, world Rugby Champions, world tennis champions, work netball champions, world woman's hockey champions, and world men and women
surfing champions. Further, on per capita basis, Australia was by far the most outstanding performer at the 1996 Olympic Games." Phillip Knightley, Australia: A Biography of a Nation, 2000

"Australia pretty generally beats most people at most things. Truly never has there been a more sporting nation. " Bill Bryson, Down Under, 2000

"The idea of Australia holding an official inquiry into the country's performance at the Munich Olympics is deplorable and pathetic. It is not for a government to worry about how many medals are won - this is taking sport far too seriously" Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, 1976

"Failure hurts Australians particularly hard because they take sport so seriously. To Australians, sport is not just something they play in their spare time, but it is the medium through which they have to prove themselves to the rest of the world. As DH Lawrence observed

"Australians play sport as though their lives depended on it" Jonathan King, Waltzing Materialism, 1976

It has been said that even though Australian "cultural" achievements are recognised world wide, in areas that are considered "high - culture"; film, music, painting, theatre, dance, literature and crafts - that it is difficult to discern much about Australian culture by just examining them. Traditional "high - culture" gains little attention from much of the population, in contrast to popular culture is no surprise in Australia. "High - culture" still thrives nevertheless, with excellent galleries (even in surprisingly small towns); a rich tradition in ballet, enlivened by the legacy of Dame Margot Fonteyn and Sir Robert Helpmann; a strong national opera company based in Sydney; and good symphony orchestras in all capital cities, particularly the Melbourne and Sydney symphony orchestras.

As the Australian landscape is defined not by its small mountains, but by the vast "sweeping" barren plains, Australian culture is probably best defined by looking at the less prominent, by considering it's more subtle and pervasive aspects. Perhaps this is why so many people consider Australia culture-less... a case of not being able to see the forest for the gum-trees.

As I have said before...

We want others to join us as Australians and change with us… not force change upon us, or be separate from us.