INTRODUCTION
'Australia Day' is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26th January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Jackson in New South Wales. In present-day Australia, celebrations aim to reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.
Ask members if anyone has visited Australia? If so, what did they think of their time there?
If members have not visited, would they like to?
Has anyone any friends or relatives living there?
What do people think of the country?
What about the wildlife?
Do people know any 'Aussies'?
IDIOMS
Ask members to complete (some of) these Australian inspired idioms ...
“Don’t blow your own - TRUMPET.”
“A bad worker blames his - TOOLS.”
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the - BUSH.”
“The grass looks greener on the other side of the - FENCE.”
“There is a thin line between love and - HATE.”
“You can’t teach an old dog new - TRICKS.”
“You might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a - LAMB.”
"You can’t judge a book by its - COVER."
“He who laughs last, laughs - LONGEST.”
“Faint heart never won fair - LADY.”
"A stitch in time saves - NINE."
"A watched pot never - BOILS."
"The pot calls the kettle - BLACK."
"Actions speak louder than - WORDS."
"After the storm comes the - CALM."
"Bad news travels - FAST."
"Better safe than - SORRY."
"Blood is thicker than - WATER."
"Call a spade a - SPADE."
"Cut your coat according to the - CLOTH."
"Charity begins at - HOME."
"Absence makes the heart grow - FONDER."
"Familiarity breeds - CONTEMPT."
"Don’t count your chickens before they are - HATCHED."
"Empty vessels make the most - SOUND."
"Don’t look a gift horse in the - MOUTH."
"God helps those who help - THEMSELVES."
"If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with - FLEAS."
"Once bitten, twice - SHY."
"One good turn deserves - ANOTHER."
"To each his - OWN."
"One man’s meat is another man’s - POISON."
And my favourite ...
"Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you’re a mile away and - HAVE THEIR SHOES."
AUSSIE SLANG
Ask members to guess at (some of) the meanings of these Australian slang words ...
Chunder - BE SICK
Budgie smugglers - TIGHT BATHERS
Sheila - WOMAN
Amber nectar - LAGER
Dunny - TOILET
Fair dinkum - FAIR ENOUGH
Mates rates - CHEAP DEAL
A Pommy - A BRIT
Tinny - CAN OF LAGER
Wedgie - PULL UP SOMEONE'S PANTS TO CAUSE DISCOMFORT
G’Day mate - HELLO
No worries - OKAY
Feeling crook - UNWELL
Barbie - BARBEQUE
Bruce - MAN
Your shout - YOUR ROUND
You little ripper - YOU BEAUTY
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
ROUND 1. Culture
 | 1. Who was the first European in 1770 was to explore and map the eastern coastline of Australia? |
 | 2. True or False. HM King Charles 111 is constitutional monarch and head of state of Australia? |
 | 3. Between 1788-1868, 608 ships transported more than how many convicts to Australia?
|
 | 4. What are indigenous people of Australian called? |
 | 5. What are the national animals of Australia? |
 | 6. What is the name of this Australian musical instrument?
|
 | 7. What is the name of this traditional Australian weapon? (Did anyone have one?)
|
 | 8. What are indigenous people of New Zealand called? |
 | 9. What is the national animal of New Zealand? (A green fruit is named after it.) |
 | 10. What is the name of the ceremonial dance the All Blacks perform before rugby matches? Here's a link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw |
11. SONG. ‘Waltzing Matilda’, Australia Patriotic Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yILM3L2sXM
What is a ‘Billabong’, as mentioned in this old bush ballad?
ROUND 2. Animals
 | 12. ‘Skippy The Bush Kangaroo’ - link to TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByob-5pPEs&t=91s What is a baby Kangaroo called? |
 | 13. 'Flipper' - link to TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6PqrTZsho0&t=76s What creature is ‘Flipper’? |
 | 14. Koalas eat a diet exclusively of what?
|
 | 15. Which puppeteer had a bird called 'Emu'? Who did he assault when appearing on his chat show in 1976? Here's the clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kek1vs6bM2k |
 | 16. What is the name given to the only egg laying mammal living, which is native to Eastern Australia? |
 | 17. What is the name of this wild Australian dog? |
 | 18. What is the name of this little varmint, native to an island state of Australia? |
 | 19. What is the name of this short-legged marsupial? |
 | 20. What is a 'Marsupial'? |
21. Which is the most dangerous creature in Australia, i.e. which caused the most human deaths between 2008-17?
- Kangaroos
- Sharks
- Horses and Cows
- Crocodiles, or
- Spiders
22. SONG. 'I Should Be So Lucky', Kylie Minogue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_TvpBwSZDM
Complete these other Kylie song titles:
- 'The Loco- ******'
- 'Especially For ***'
- 'Hand On Your *****'
- 'Better The Devil You ****'
- 'Can't Get You Out Of ** ****'
ROUND 3. Places
 | 23. What is the capital of Australia? |
 | 24. What is the capital of New Zealand? |
 | 25. What year did Queen Elizabeth 11 open the 'Sydney Opera House'? |
 | 26. 'Sydney Harbour Bridge' is one of those landmarks across the world where you see the fireworks on New Year's Eve. How many hours ahead of us are they in New South Wales? (Do any members fancy climbing over it?) |
 | 27. What is the name of the most famous surfing beach in Australia (it is in Sydney)? |
 | 28. What is the name of the structure made of coral off the coast of Queensland in North East Australia? (It stretches for more than 1,250 miles long and makes up an area of 135,000 square miles) |
 | 29. What is the proper (Aboriginal) name for 'Ayers Rock'?
|
 | 30. 'Alice Springs' is in the centre of the Northern Territory, which is a remote and vast arid area. What do Australians call this region? |
 | 31. How long will a direct flight home, from Sydney to London Heathrow take (they start in 2025)? |
32. Name these Australian food and drinks?
33. SONG. ‘Land Down Under’, Men At Work - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s
What is the English version of Vegemite? (Do members love it or hate it?)
ROUND 4. TV & Movies
 | 34. Who starred in the 1980s drama ‘The Thorn Birds’?
Here is a link to the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcQXWxcjMGw
|
 | 35. What was the name of the prison in 'Prisoner Cell Bock H'?
Here is a link to the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK1iAwlhsnQ
|
 | 36. Name this character and movie star? |
 | 37. What is the name of the cul de sac where 'Neighbours' was set?
Here's a link to the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQ4QQxSFlI
|
 | 38. What is the name of the fictional coastal town in 'Home And Away'?
Here is a link to the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gx-GT_K_EI
|
 | 39. Which hit BBC TV show did the 1992 movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’ inspire?
Here is the 'Final Dance' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk-nWE9yeG8&t=47s
|
 | 40. In the 1994 movie 'Muriel's Wedding', Muriel is obsessed with ABBA. What are the names of the two female singers in ABBA? Here is a link to their 'Waterlooo' dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqti-Sxsxk4 |
 | 41. What is the name of this 1994 movie about a group of drag act friends who take their act on the road?
Here is a clip, 'I Will Survive' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0gGWiRkjYM
|
 | 42. Filmed in New Zealand and released in 2001-3, what was the name of the wizard in ‘Lord Of The Rings’ and which actor played him?
'Dragon Fireworks' clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0XiuLj-pHA
|
 | 43. Which presenter duo host ITV’s ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here’ each year? |
44. SONG. 'Summer Lovin', Grease - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4
Name the two characters and actors?
ROUND 5. People
 | 45. What flower is Dame Edna Everage associated with? What is his name? |
 | 46. Name this Kiwi Dame (she is an opera singer)?
|
 | 47. Name this TV soap couple & later pop stars? |
 | 48. Name this actor, who starred in the 1995 movie 'Braveheart'?
|
 | 49. Name this late conservationist and TV personality? |
 | 50. Name this late Australian cricketer, whose nickname was 'Spin King'? |
 | 51. Name this actor, who starred in the 2000 movie 'Gladiator'? |
 | 52. Which Page 3 model did Peter Andre marry in 2005? (They later divorced in 2009)
|
 | 53. Name this (now divorced) Hollywood couple?
|
 | 54. Name this 'Greatest Showman' actor? |
NB. I've included a cover version of a Rolf Harris song next, so as to avoid any upset at mention of his name, which could be triggering for some.
'Two Little Boys', Jerry Graham Sounds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI4_nQvqQNM
55. What were Rolf Harris's other hits?
'Tie Me Kangaroo **** *****'
'Sun *****'
'Jake The ***'
Or you could play one or two of these songs if you think avoiding mentioning his name is best ...
Encourage members to get up and dance their best moves.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
Have members make some original Aboriginal inspired artwork, either on cloth, canvas or pebbles. You could either do this individually or as a group.
Aboringal art tends to be very colourful and uses repetitive symmetrical patterns. Painting dots on top of block base colours also seems to be important. Often an animal or tree or something else from nature is included in the drawing.
Have some fun with this and maybe play some more Australian music in the background?
Or, you could plan an Australian style BBQ with your group. Have them choose items to grill and other refreshments. Make a list and then perhaps enjoy a burger and 'tinny' together.
Heather Manktelow suggests playing a 'Thong Throwing' game, as is tradition on 'Australia Day'. 'Thongs' are what Brits call 'Flip Flops'. You could have a few prizes on standby for the furthest thrown.
Heather also suggests you have a go at learning and performing 'The Haka' together with your group and painting faces.
Great suggestions. Thanks Heather x
Finally, for relaxation, you could play the Australian national anthem, or this Aboriginal song by Gurrumul - 'Wiyathul (Longing For Place) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lmZXAdSMQI
ANSWERS
1. CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
2. TRUE
3. 162,000
4. ABORIGINES
5. KANGAROO & EMU
6. DIDGERIDOO
7. BOOMERANG
8. MAORI
9. KIWI
10. HAKA
11. A POND
12. JOEY
13. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN
14. EUCALYPTUS
15. ROD HULL / MICHAEL PARKINSON
16. DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS
17. DINGO
18. TASMANIAN DEVIL
19. WOMBAT
20. MARSUPIALS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY PREMATURE BIRTH AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEWBORN WHILE ATTACHED TO THE NIPPLES ON THE MOTHER'S LOWER BELLY, USUALLY IN A POUCH. Marsupials are characterized by premature birth and continued development of the newborn while attached to the nipples on the mother's lower belly, usually in a pouch.
21. HORSES AND COWS - 77
Other mammals eg Kangaroos 60
Hornets bees and wasps 27
Sharks and other marine animals 26
Reptiles including snakes 23
Dogs 22
Crocodiles 17
Spiders 0
22. - 'The Loco- MOTION'
- 'Especially For YOU'
- 'Hand On Your HEART'
- 'Better The Devil You KNOW'
- 'Can't Get You Out Of MY HEAD'
23. SYDNEY
24. WELLINGTON
25. 20TH OCTOBER 1973
26. 11 HOURS
27. BONDI
28. GREAT BARRIER REEF
29. ULURU
30. OUTBACK
31. 20 HOURS
32. 'VEGEMITE', BARBECUE, LAGER, ROAST LAMB, PAVOLVA, MACADEMIA NUTS & WICHETY GRUB
33. 'MARMITE'
34. RACHEL WARD & RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN
35. 'WENTWORTH'
36. 'CROCODILE DUNDEE' / PAUL HOGAN
37. RAMSAY STREET
38. SUMMER BAY
39. 'STRICTLY COME DANCING'
40. 'ABBA' were AGNETHA Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and ANNI-FRID Lyngstad
41. 'THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA OF THE DESERT'
42. GANDALF / IAN MCKELLEN
43. ANT MCPARTLAN & DEC DONNELLY
44. SANDY OLSSEN & DANNY ZUKO / OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN & JOHN TRAVOLTA
45. GLADIOLI / BARRY HUMPHRIES
46. DAME KIRI TE KANAWA
47. JASON DONOVAN & KYLIE MINOGUE
48. MEL GIBSON
49. STEVE IRWIN
50. SHANE WARNE
51. RUSSELL CROWE
52. KATIE PRICE AKA JORDAN
53. NICOLE KIDMAN & TOM CRUISE
54. HUGH JACKMAN
55. 'Tie Me Kangaroo - DOWN SPORT'
'Sun - ARISE'
'Jake The - PEG'
