January 26, 2007
Happy Australia Day!
A day where all across the country we celebrate being Australian by having the day off and doing next to nothing. What's not to like?
We've done very little all day, and will top off the day by going out to watch the local council's fireworks display.
I thought I'd toss out a few facts about Australia that many of you may not know or realise.
A lot of people look at a map of Australia, and think we live on a little island. Let me assure you, it's not small. The total area is 7,741,220 kmē (2,988,888 sq mi). For comparison, the area of the United States is 9,631,420 kmē (3,718,695 sq mi). 1% of our total area is water, 4.87% of the USA is water, bringing the total comparison of the land masses even closer.
However, our population is estimated at 20,555,300, and the USA's is estimated at 301,019,000. Our largest city is Sydney, with a population of 4,254,900, compared to New York City's 8,143,197. We have the lowest population density in the world - about 2 people per square kilometre.
Australia is a bit like a donut though. The vast majority of our population lives in the coastal areas, and the centre of the country is more sparsely populated.
Kangaroos and koalas are not all over the place as many people assume. In fact I have personally never seen either one in the wild, although I'm a city girl. We are possibly the only country in the world that eats both of the animals on our Coat of Arms. (The kangaroo and the emu). Personally, I have never eaten either one, nor do I have any desire to do so!
Voting is compulsory here, and you must register to vote at age 18. We don't vote for our country's leader. We vote for our preferred political party, and they choose the leader of the party. The leader of the winning party becomes the Prime Minister of Australia.
We have no Bill of Rights.
Australia was the second country to give women the right to vote.
In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
You can also drink and go to bars and clubs at 18.
School begins at 5, although some parents keep their kids back a year and start them when they turn 6. In NSW, you go to Primary School for the first seven years (Kindergarten, then grades 1-6) and then to High School for the next 4 or 6 years (Grades 7-12). There is a leaving certificate at Year 10, but most kids now stay until Year 12. I believe that they Year 10 certificate is about to be done away with, though.
A school day is generally 9-3, the work day is usually 9-5, although a lot of work places are pretty flexible about that now, and business hours are often extended.
Our seasons are opposite to the USA (It's currently summer here), and we drive on the opposite side of the road.
Our cable television is fairly recent. Personally, I've had cable for around 10 years. Many people don't have cable at all. And the cable we have is vastly different to the USA. We have about 40 channels. There are four free to air television networks. That's all that many people have, although Emily believes that that would fall in the category of cruel and unusual punishment.
We like a party and a drink, and are much more laid back about swearing and nudity than much of the world seems to be. The J*net J*ckson wardrobe malfunction would barely have rated a blip on the radar here.
We have universal health care. To put this into perspective, David had cancer in 2003. From the start to the end, including all the tests, the doctor and specialist visits, the medication and the chemotherapy treatment, it cost us about $AU600 in out of pocket expenses.
We are the world's largest exporter of sheep. I'd prefer it if they kept and processed a few more here!
Speaking of wool, knitting has happened, but I've gone on long enough tonight. Here's a hint - I changed my mind again about the Bloomin' Feet socks.
More next time.
Comments
Hey, I think it's those Americans who drive on the wrong side of the road: the rest of us are right, they are opposite!!! You are so right about health care, when you are really sick, there's hardly any cost at all. It's when you need the help most, that it's there. Bags Tasmania not be the 'hole' from the doughnut!!!
Posted by: 2paw at January 26, 2007 10:48 PMI've eaten scrambled emu egg. Can I be an honorary Australian?
Posted by: Wendy at January 26, 2007 11:37 PMThanks for this post. I definitely learned a few things about Australia that I didn't know, and the post was interesting while being very informative. I hope that you have Happy Australia Day and enjoy the warm weather. We're in single Farenheit digits in New England, which makes it negative digits Celsius.
Posted by: Susan at January 27, 2007 12:26 AMVery interesting stuff. :) Happy Australia Day!
Posted by: Samantha at January 27, 2007 12:28 AMI'm not from, nor have I ever been to Australia (I sure would like to though) but I have eaten Emu. It was ok, but I don't go looking for it.
I really enjoyed this post, thank you. Happy Australia day to you.
Posted by: Amanda at January 27, 2007 01:06 AMIt's so interesting to read about the differences in our countries. Have a great day!
Posted by: wool winder at January 27, 2007 03:11 AMHappy Australia Day! It's fun to learn about our similarities and differences -- I hope to visit one day and see Australia up close and in person. Your flowers and birds and butterflies are just absolutely amazing compared to ours.
I knew that most of the population lives donut-fashion by the coast, but I don't know very much about the desert in the center. Do people tend to fly to get there, or are there trains and roadways to drive through? I'm sorry if you're now laughing at this question, but I'm looking at my Australia mousepad here, and I see that Alice Springs is there and also Uluru. I am wondering what mode of transport people use to visit those places and how long it takes, etc.
Posted by: Debby at January 27, 2007 03:24 AMThanks for a little education today. The Discovery Channel (cable tv) had a program on Australia a while back. So very interesting to learn about other cultures.
Posted by: Diane at January 27, 2007 04:09 AMWow, this was really cool. Kim will enjoy hearing this as well, she loves for me to read your blog to her. As I looked at the calendar this morning, it said Australia Day and I wondered what exactly it was, so thank you for all of the information you included!!
Posted by: Tammy at January 27, 2007 04:35 AMLoved your post! (even though it was Twinkieless). What happens if you don't vote? And is it hard to get seen with universal healthcare? I've heard that the wait can be long. Thinking of you as we shovel.
Janet
I learned several things I didn't know. Thanks for the info.
Posted by: Restless Knitter at January 27, 2007 06:48 AMThank you for some very useful information. Personally, I think the U.S is way too uptight about the wrong things. Not all of us freak out about Janet Jackson or anything else.
Knowing how the U.S. is perceived by the rest of the world, I am a bit hesitant to proclaim that I am an American. I will say, however, that our family health care plan (which only covers catastrophic events, not doctor visits, and which has a $5K deductible) costs us $5K a year in premiums. "Real" health insurance would cost us $9K. Yet there is no future for universal health care because of the threat of higher taxes. Americans hate taxes! And we only pay 15-28 percent of what's left after deductions.
But I digress. Hope you had an enjoyable day.
Posted by: jessie at January 27, 2007 09:24 AMHappy Australia Day. Eating emu and kangaroo, I have to agree that I have no desire to eat them either. Too cute, although I have seen both in the wild. Maybe Sydney is too busy for them to parade around in. I dont think I would like to the health care that they have in the States, I think it needs a major overhaul in some areas too. Cant wait to see what socks you are making too. Happy knitting!
Posted by: Sue at January 27, 2007 09:43 AMHi ,you did a good job of the Aussie facts,I was wondering how long it took for you to type it,LOL,
Over here in WA, school starts at 8.20am,try that when Daylight saving came in,in theory the kids started at 7.20am and I started work 3.45am, I hate daylight saving,grrrrr,Iam so tired some afternoons that I feel sick!
On Wednesdays this year at our school,the kids finish at 2 pm as its staff meeting day!So I will work to 2 sometimes if picking up kids(rain etc)
Can't wait to see what socks you're doing!
Im spinning a lot wool and dyeing heaps, love working with colour!
That was great information on us Aussies, we sometimes forget about our history, especially when a day off is involved. It was great seeing so many people with flags flying on their homes, cars etc yesterday. I hope you don't mind, I am going to copy that info to my blog as I have some different readers to you and they might be interested in our history, I will point them to the very talented authors page.
Posted by: Annie at January 27, 2007 04:10 PMThank you for sharing about Australia. You gave just enough info to make me say hmmm--- I didn't know that and hmmm that's amazing.
Thanks again from Houston TX
Hi Donna, just catching up finally. Spring blossom looks fantastic! I love that colour you chose too. I can't wait until my lace shawl is finished and I can block it and see the entire thing. It is amazing the difference it makes.
Posted by: NattyChick at January 28, 2007 05:42 AMGreat post, i totally agree with Emily i don't know what i would do without my foxtel.
Posted by: kylie at January 28, 2007 06:37 AMGreat job on putting the info on Australia together. I love the Rabbit Tree Farm shawl/scarf it looks lovely, and the Spring Blossoms Shawl is really stunning.
Posted by: Helen at January 28, 2007 08:41 AMThanks for an interesting post! I know my day was spent getting sunburnt at the beach, I have eaten emu and kangaroo (loved the emu but want to try kangaroo again and cook it properly!) and my relatives have eaten crocodile with great success.
Great post and can't wait to see pics of the socks!!
Posted by: Sally at January 28, 2007 12:47 PMI've often wondered about the compulsory voting, too. What do you do about the people who, um, well, maybe shouldn't vote? The ones who don't pay any attention and don't care? Or kids like the 18 year olds who registered to vote in CA *just* so they could elect the Terminator our governor (sigh), probably not evening knowing which party he was from? Other than my wondering on that score -- sounds great to me! Universal healthcare seems to me to be so blatantly just that I am dumfounded at the obstinancy of our country. I'd be happy to pay higher taxes for it!
Posted by: Janet at January 29, 2007 06:48 AMThat was very nicely said, Donna.
Personally, I think we live in the greatest place in the world!!! Patriotic??? Just a bit. ;-)
Posted by: Jo at January 29, 2007 07:59 AMGreat post. In Victoria, school starts at different times depending on whether you go to a state, catholic or private school, but it's generally around 9 - 3.30.
I agree about the JJ and JT "uproar". If that happened at the logies, it would be splashed all over the papers, but as an hilarious event, same as when Jennifer Hawkins lost her skirt.
We celebrated Australia Day with a wedding......at least they and we will have no excuses for forgetting their anniversary. hehe
What am I doing here freezing my **** off?!
I miss the fireworks on the Perth foreshore. Happy Australia Day!
Posted by: Marina at January 26, 2007 10:44 PM