Advance Australia Fair

From Tartan to Aussie Flags
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Saturday 26th January and it was down with the tartan and up with the Aussie flags and my turn to be educated on all things Aussie....Happy Australia Day!

So what's it all about?  Well Australia Day is celebrated every year on January 26.  It marks the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip unfurled the British flag at Sydney Cove...and by god to the Aussies celebrate!  There are flags everywhere...on the cars...on balconies...on flag poles and on people...even me (see the pics).

Happy Australia Day!

Cheers
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Mum and I celebrated on the patio with some traditional aussie fair and our cousins.   We had a great time as as all the 'young uns' were walking past the patio along the road shouting 'Happy Australia Day!' and 'Aussie Aussie Aussie...Oh Oh Oh!'  Mum was quick to tell them all she was scottish to which one young lad fancied himself as Mel Gibson reciting 'They may take our lives...but they'll never take our freedom!!'

Suitably fed we then joined the crowds made our way down to the South Perth foreshore (20 mins walk from my place) to see the Australia Day Sky Works which involved aerobatic shows and then when the sun went down some spectacular fireworks. A great day was had by all :-)

The lamington (an aussie institution)
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Oh and incase your wandering 'Advance Australia Fair' is the title of the Australian National Anthem.  And just for you all in the name of Australia Day...here's some more interesting Aussie facts...

1. 'Advance Australia Fair' was composed by a Scotsman (Peter Doods McCormick)

2. Lamingtoms (see pic) were named after Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901.

3. Vegemite was concocted in 1923 by Dr P. Callister who combined leftover brewer's yeast with various vegetable and spice additives.  Australians buy the spread at a rate of 44 jars per minute (can't abide the stuff masel!)

Aussie Aussie Aussie...Oi Oi Oi!
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4. The emu and kangaroo were chosen for Australia's coat of arms because they cannot walk backwards!

5. Polymer banknotes are an Aussie invention and are now used on 22 countries worldwide (still feels like monopoly money to me...even after 9 months!)

Where ever you are in the world....Happy Australia Day to all my friends!!