Jan. 30, 2007 - A little update

Posted in Australia Info

Jan. 26, 2007 - G'Day, G'Day!

Posted in Australia Info

Hopefully I will have time later tonight to post about our Australia day celebration. 

For now, please click here to listen some sweet little Australian voices singing the Aussie song "G'Day, G'Day"  It is very short and sooo cute!

Here are the words:

G'Day, G'Day

G’day G’day,
How ya goin?
What ya know?
Well, strike a light
I say - G’day
And how ya goin?
I say G’day, G’day G’day
She’ll be right!

 Check out MamaLisa's World for Children's songs and nursery rhymes from all over the world.

Jan. 24, 2007 - Celebrating Australia Day!

Posted in Australia Info

This Friday is Australia Day. We are celebrating by having a few homeschooling buddies over for an Australian lunch, a little lesson and a craft.  Wish you could join us.....

We will be dining on sausage rolls, carrots an apples; with Chocolate crackles for dessert. I’m also making Vegetable Pasties and a Pavlova- Yum!

Since the kids have already studied a little about Australia we will review the location and then move onto learning about the Koala.

Here are some of the links I have used for this Koala lesson:

Koala craft

Koala facts printout

Koala Factsheet (more in depth than the one above

Links to lots of kid friendly Australia information and activities

If you want to listen to the Australian National Anthem click here

For more information about Australia Day click here

Just for fun, here are the words to our National Anthem:

Advance Australia Fair

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Dec. 23, 2006 - Christmas in Australia

Posted in Australia Info

I have not celebrated Christmas in Australia for 8 or 9 years now.  While living here in the United States I have greatly enjoyed the atmosphere snow brings to the holiday season. However, I still think back to Christmas in the summer with very fond memories.  And I do miss it. 

In Australia, Christmas is the beginning of our summer vacation from school. We would swim, go to the beach, have a barbeque...all those fun summer activities. Even though it was extremely hot ,we still decorated our trees with snow!  I guess it's the English heritage.  We also made a full turkey dinner which means the oven is on for hours in extremely hot weather.  It sounds crazy - but it's tradition.

One of my favorite Christmas songs tells of  Santa coming to Australia and giving his reindeer a break (because it is too hot). Instead he uses six kangaroos (known as the six white boomers) to pull the sleigh.   Click here to read the song lyrics.

If you are interested in learning a little more about Christmas in Australia check out the links below:

Australian Christmas Carols and Poems
 www.thekoala.com/christmas

My favorite part of Christmas dinner is eating Yorkshire Pudding.  Click here for a delicious and easy recipe.  (I'll add a photo after Christmas day)

EDIT: Here is the picture of our yourkshire puddings:



Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.  Enjoy your family!  Treasure the moments!

Stacy

Oct. 19, 2006 - Learn about Australia

Posted in Australia Info

Sep. 5, 2006 - Steve Irwin - Australian Reaction

Posted in Australia Info

I called my Dad last night to see what was happening over in Australia. He told me that there is an air of sadness about the place. People are shocked.

Many are saying that Steve Irwin was the "face of Australia", and that he did more for tourism by just being himself than anything the government has done with all the money they put into it.

Dad told me that there are counselors on the radio giving advice to parents since many children are devastated.

If you want to read an Australian newspaper article about how his death is affecting the children click here

To read condolences written by the Australian people in their own words click here

Sep. 4, 2006 - Crocodile Hunter dies

Posted in Australia Info

This morning I got on the computer and saw that Steve Irwin, better known as,"The Crocodile Hunter", had died.  He was killed by a Stingray. 

It made  me sad because he was only 44 years old with a wife and two kids (8 year old daughter and nearly 3 year old son). I'm sure he knew the risks involved in doing what he loved to do.

He is one of the most well known Australians and lots of fun to watch.

Personally, I thought he was hilarious.  He seemed like a good "bloke".
I'm sure that many will miss his antics!

I have read quite a few tributes to him today and am happy that so many loved this fellow Aussie.

Here are a few links about him:
Crocodile Hunter Website
Notable Quotes from Steve Irwin
How he died and reaction to his death, click here and
here

Jul. 29, 2006 - Australian Money

Posted in Australia Info

Many people do not know what Australian money looks like...so I want to show you!! I was inspired by Pinaymom's pictures of Philippine money.  Thanks to my own mum for taking these pictures.....

We usually refer to our bills as "notes", i.e. instead of saying 5 dollar bill we would call it a 5 dollar note.  They are plastic and very colorful.  My husband says it is like play money!  Plastic money is great because it won't be ruined if you forget to check your pockets and put it through the wash!  The notes are also different sizes which makes it easier for those with little or no vision to identify.
On the $50 note is Aboriginal writer and inventor, David Unaipon.  It also features Australia's first female in parliament, Edith Cowan.
The $20 note features Reverend John Flynn who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service (the first aerial medical service in the world).  Mary Reibey a convict turned philanthropist is also featured.
On the $10 note is the famous Australian poet A. B. (‘Banjo’) Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore also a poet.  Micro-printed excerpts of Paterson’s and Gilmore’s work are on this note.
The $5 note features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on one side and Parliament House on the other.

From top to bottom coins are shown front and back,
5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2. 
Sorry, front of  $1 coin is not shown.

We do not have 1 or 2 cent coins - I can still remember them being phased out.  Our coins include 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.  Australia also uses $1 and $2 coins.  A pocket of change can easily turn out to be ten dollars!

Coin picture details:
5 cents - Echidna (or spiny ant-eater).
10 cents - Male Lyrebird
20 cents - Platypus
50 cent s - Australia's Coat of Arms
For more information go to:  http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/currency.html