- Australia was the second country to give women the 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.
- Swimming - In 1838 it was declared illegal to swim at public beaches during the day! This law was enforced until 1902.
- Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts.
- In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a convict ancestor.
- Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.
- When a specimen of the platypus was first sent to England, it was believed the Australians had played a joke by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.
- Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world - only two people per square kilometre.
Australian inventions...
- Australians invented notepads (1902)
- aspirin (1915)
- the pacemaker (1926)
-penicillin (1940)
-the Hills Hoist clothesline (1946)
- the plastic disposable syringe (1949)
- the wine cask (1965)
- the bionic ear (1978)
- dual-flush toilet flush (1980)
- anti-counterfeiting technology for banknotes (1992)
- long-wearing contact lenses (1999).
And then the greatest improvement of all --- they will have you!!! When was the church established in Australia, btw?
ReplyDeleteAgreed with the above comment. they are going to love you., but you are going to have to do alot of walking to meet the people -- 2 per square kilometer!! Better start walking again with me.
ReplyDelete