Australian Authors
GLYNN PARRY
He's very funny, but only one of his books, that I've read, reflect that humour. I recommend "Spooking the Cows" by Glynn Parry. It's mainly for teenagers, though. I think LA Postcards is OK.
MARGARET CLARK
Now these books are funny. If you see a book that says 'by Margaret Clark', GET IT. Especially if you're a teen. It's best to borrow them from a library first, to check if you like them. I recommend "Hold my Hand - Or Else" "Living with Leanne" "Pulling the Moves" "Famous for 5 Minutes" and "Web Watchers" by Margaret Clark.
PAUL JENNINGS
These can be for all ages. He's just written a series of books - Wicked - with Morris Gleitzman, and they are okay. I like the Gizmo series, they are good.
BANJO PATTERSON/HENRY LAWSON
These two mainly wrote poems and stuff like that, but I really enjoy reading this stuff.
Australian Language
Our Australian language has a lot of colloquialisms and slang words in it. For example, breakie is short for breakfast, and jumper is another word for sweater or overgarment or cardigan. cardie is short for cardigan, cordie means a cadet from a military college (they were'nt allowed to wear denim, so wore corduroy pants, a.k.a cords). when someone asks for a plate, they usually mean a plate of sandwiches, and so on. there is a web site that has a whole lot of colloquialisms on it, and explains where they came from. Aerial pingpong means AFL, because in footy, you use kicks to move the ball up and down the field.
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Australian Bands & Singers
SILVERCHAIR
They have three albums out : Neon Ballroom, Frogstomp, and Freak Show.
The band members are Daniel Johns, who does guitar/vocals; Chris Joannou, who does bass; and Ben Gillies, who does drums.
They were known as "the Innocent Criminals" when they were in their down-under home in Newcastle. They got their current name when they were requesting two Nirvana songs, Sliver and Chair, on JJJ. If you say them together, Sliver and Chair, then play with it, you eventually get Silverchair.
SAVAGE GARDEN
The members are Darren Hayes, lead and background vocals; and Daniel Jones, keyboards, sequencing, additional guitar and vocals. They formed in 1994, originated from Brisbane.
They got their name from a title of a
Anne Rice Vampire novel (Savage Garden).
The self-titled album Savage Garden was recorded in Aussie studios, in Sydney, except for several remixes which were done in England.
REGURGITATOR
They formed in late 1993, originated from Brisbane. The members are Benjamin Ely, vocals, bass, guitar and keyboards; Quan Yeomans, vocals, guitar and bass; Martin Lee, drums and backing vocals; and Shane Rudken, keyboard and guitar.
Most of the members are included in other bands. Benjamin is also in Pangaea, Broken Head and Six Billion Asteroids; Martin is also in Emporium and Brazilia; Shane is also in Emporium; and Quan does animation and graphics for Spiderbait. The band formed because of a chance meeting on a bus between Ben and Quan.
JOHN FARNHAM
He's an Australian singer, who's been singing for approximately 20 years. He recently made a hit song with Human Nature, "Every Time You Cry". John was actually born in England, but was here in Australia by the age of 19.
He recorded his first song "Sadie" in Oz. That song was a hit by 1968, and he made 13 additional hits between 1968 and 1973. During those years, he was voted Australia's King of Pop each year.
His career was on a downfall by the mid 70's, until he recorded a cover album (Uncovered) in 1980. He then returned to the charts again with his version of
the Beatles song "Help". John sang with 'the Little River Band' in the early 80's, but returned solo with "Whispering Jack". He hit the British Top Ten with "You're the Voice" a year later.
THE LITTLE RIVER BAND (LRB)
They were based in Australia, and went on tour in the US. They're going again on tour, which caused Adrian Scott to leave, along with Roger McLachlan. They were replaced by Wayne Nelson (member of the Little River Band 1980 - 1995) and Glenn Reither.
They've sold more than 25 million records. They're the only band to have scored an American top ten every year from 1978 to 1982. Within 8 months of formation, they had 3 Australian Top 20 singles and 2 Top 10 albums. They had 16 hits by 1985. Wayne Nelson is the only non-Aussie musician so far. They're not consistent when it comes to members - they come and go.
Australian Films, TV Shows and People
CLAUDIA KARVAN
She's appeared in Australian movies (Dating the Enemy, Paperback Hero), and appeared in Australian dramas (G.P., Twisted Tales).
HOME AND AWAY
Personally, I don't see what's so good about this show, but it is Australian. It's filmed on a set somewhere in Sydney, and some of the actors are Aussies, eg. Belinda Emmett.
KISS OR KILL
This is an Australian film, a "road movie" filmed in Australia. It's produced by Bill and Jennifer Bennett and the main actors are Frances O'Connor, Matt Day and Chris Haywood.
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FOOTBALL
Football combines the rules and skills of Gaelic football and Australian Rules.
AFL (Australian Football League), also known as Aussie Rules Football, is a sport played by professionals, amateurs and people just wanting some fun all over Australia. There are 16 teams in the AFL. They are the Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton Blues, Collingwood Magpies, Essendon Bombers, Fremantle Dockers, Geelong Cats, Hawthorn Hawks, Melbourne Demons, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Port Adelaide Power, Richmond Tigers, St Kilda Saints, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs.
Each year there is a Grand Final, where the two best teams play against each other. This year the winners were the Roos. Other teams have won in the past.
On each team, there is a coach, manager and players. When it comes to players, there has to be 18 players on the field from one team, and there must be some reserves in case of injury and other incidents.
RULES
The ball is ovally shaped, and can be bounced, kicked or passed by hand. If the ball is caught from a kick before it hits the ground, it is called a mark, and, unless the player who marked the ball plays on, they can't be tackled.
The player with the mark then backs up and take a kick from where they caught the ball. They are permitted a run up, if they wish.
The goals are made up of four long posts. If the ball is kicked between the two middle posts, it is a goal. If they go between the outer posts, it is a point. 6 points make a goal. If it passes out of the posts without touching the ground, it is out on the full and the opposing teams' ball.
Tackling is permitted, but grabbing around the neck is out, and punching/kicking another player is not permitted. There is also a blood rule, to prevent the spreading of AIDs and other diseases transmitted through the blood.
SOCCER
Soccer, although originated elsewhere, is widely played in Australia. I myself enjoy playing soccer.
There is a national soccer league, NSL, in Australia. In Australia, there are approximately 21 soccer clubs : Adelaide Force, Adelaide Sharks, Auckland Kings, Brisbane Strikers, Canberra Cosmos, Carlton, Collingwood Warriors, Gippsland Falcons, Heidelberg United, Marconi-Fairfield, Melbourne Knights, Melbourne SC, Newcastle Breakers, Northern Spirit, Parramatta Eagles, Parramatta Power, Perth Glory, South Melbourne, UTS Olypic, Sydney United, Wollongong City.
There is a womens' soccer league as well as a mens' league. The womens' league competes both nationally and internationally, and I think Australia has a womens' soccer team in the Olympics.
On each team, there should be at least 11 people, which includes a goal-keeper, attackers (strikers), midfielders, defence and wings. There should also be a coach, manager and reserves.
Scoring is just goals, which are scored by kicking the spherical ball into a net, which is protected by the goal-keeper (goalie). You aren't allowed to touch the ball with your hands, but can hit it with chest, head and legs.
If the goes out of the boundaries, the opposite team to who kicked it out gets possession of the ball.
OLYMPICS
The Olympics are a sport orientated competition, held every four years in different countries. In the year 2000, the Olympics are going to be held in Sydney.
The winners of the events at the Olympics are given 1st, 2nd or 3rd place medals. First is gold, second silver and third bronze. It is like a battle of
the sporting champs from different countries. Getting a gold means you are the best in the world at that moment at the particular sport. Australia has many sporting personalities. Some would be training towards the Olympics.
The disabled are not forgotten - the Paralympics. Sports are not just for the healthy.
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