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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder what, culturally speaking, australia has ever given the world?

277 replies

workstostaysane · 18/02/2008 19:03

really.
apart from neighbours, peter carey and patrick white?
anything?

OP posts:
procrastinatingparent · 18/02/2008 22:11

dweezle

William McInnes!!!!!!
Seachange!!!!!!

Almost posted that but thought I would be babbling to myself and no one would understand me. DH and I watch all three series through every couple of years and sigh with fondness.

And Opera in the Park.
And Shakespeare by the Sea, if they still do that.

LambethLil · 18/02/2008 22:21

Shakespeare by the Sea, they still do, we could hear eat from our house. Feel really homesick now.

LambethLil · 18/02/2008 22:22

Hear eat? it! oops!

LambethLil · 18/02/2008 22:23

Does anyone know RAN, Remote Access Nurse? It was a series about a, um, Nurse and was great, really beautiful music.

liath · 18/02/2008 22:34

worktostaysane, Powderfinger is a rock band! It does sound like some kind of dodgy antipodean slang for a sex act, though!!

hifi · 18/02/2008 22:48

what about the wiggles, where would we be without them?

superjo · 18/02/2008 22:53

Whilst I love Powderfinger, Sick Puppies

This makes me cry every time, and makes me think that perhaps this is cross cultural not just Aussie culture.
belgo · 19/02/2008 06:17

yes chequers, that's the film I meant Rabbit Proof Fence. It was good.

eidsvold · 19/02/2008 06:55

such a limited scope in your opening comment

Paul Kelly - probably one of if not the greatest songwriter!!

First feature length Film - about the Kelly Gang

Aboriginal art is vibrant, significant and tells of a rich history and culture.

World class painters and writers - Thomas Keneally of Schindler's list fame, Bryce Courtney, Germaine Greer, David Malouf, Mary Gilmore,

artists: Frederick McCubbin, Sidney Nolan, Albert Namatjira - to name a very very small minority

amazing scientific discoveries - including one which is transforming the lives of burn victims - spray on skin!! ( Dr Fiona Wood)

www.whitehat.com.au/australia/Inventions/InventionsA.html Aussie inventions which show that we are a very inventive and innovative lot.

Dame Joan Sutherland
Sir RObert Helpman
Manning Clarke
Lionel Rose
Peter Allen
Helen Reddy - I am Woman!!
Hunters and Collectors

Geoffrey Rush
Cate Blanchett
Hugh Jackman
Heath Ledger
Bryan Brown

Bruce Beresford
Peter Weir

and the list goes on.

eidsvold · 19/02/2008 07:01

Films

Mad Max
Sunday Too far away
Man from Snowy River ( along with the poem and the poet)
Breaker Morant
Phar Lap
Gallipoli

The Castle
The Piano

Moulin Rouge
Lantana

Happy Feet
The Dish

Just to name a few

eidsvold · 19/02/2008 07:03

hope that helps

Was not going to answer at first as I felt the statement had racist overtones and smacked of ignorance BUT felt you wanted to be informed and so I answered.

belgo · 19/02/2008 07:12

also the film 'Walkabout'

sandcastles · 19/02/2008 07:14

Why does it matter? Does it make it any less of a country if you can't see what it has offered to the rest of the world?

It is a beautiful country, a wonderful place to live. States actively try to recruit workers from overseas, almost offering them visas & thus a new life.

What difference does what it has offered to the world make really make?

Oh & you all forgot the Didgeridoo!

sandcastles · 19/02/2008 07:15

"What difference does what it has offered to the world make really make?"

And that's a crap sentance, but you know what I mean.

belgo · 19/02/2008 07:16

no, actually, drusilla mentioned the didgeridoo

I don't think the Op is phrased very well, but apart from that it's an interesting thread

arfishy · 19/02/2008 07:17

Oooh well done Eids. I'm not sure I can improve on your list.

OP - Have you ever been to Australia?

sandcastles · 19/02/2008 07:19

belgo, did she...bugga!

Nevermind...

Must pay attention
Muat pay attention

I bet no one said Damper yet tho!

belgo · 19/02/2008 07:21

oh and All Saints! I know it's only recently been on UK TV, but I've watched it for ages on Belgium TV.

belgo · 19/02/2008 07:23

specificaaly Australian has 'given' me (ok I bought them), two aboriginal paintings and a boomerang which are on my living room wall

ghosty · 19/02/2008 07:29

Didn't Australia also give a place for the Brits to house their criminal scum way back in the early 1800s???

Great list Eids

ipodtherforipoor · 19/02/2008 08:07

Rocky Horror Show?

Jason Donovan - cheesey I know but he was amazing as Sweeney Todd on the UK tour, and he made my tummy feel funny when I saw him in Rocky Horror - bring on the heels and eyeliner

Blandmum · 19/02/2008 08:09

Rotary lines for drying your clothes on!

Freckle · 19/02/2008 08:15

And just to make the OP even more pointless, Steve Biddulph was born in Yorkshire of English parents. He's a naturalised Australian, but I don't think that counts from a cultural pov .

ghosty · 19/02/2008 08:27

The creator of the Rocky Horror Show, Richard O'Brien, was actually born in England and his family emigrated to New Zealand ...

dejags · 19/02/2008 08:42

Must say that I think the OP was mean spirited and quite patronising.

If I were an Australian and knew anything about Australia, I'd take issue with your tone.

WTSS - have you actually been to Australia?

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