we've been her 5 weeks, my daughter has spent 8 days at school and she already knows the australian national anthem - I don't even know the tune (but do know the last line!!),
Austalians all, let us rejoice
For we are young and free.
With golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by sea.
Our lands abound in natures gift
Of beauty rich and rare.
In historys page let every stage
Advance Australia fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renown thro' all the lands.
For those who come across the sea
We've boundless plains to share.
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyfull strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair
Sorry to any Ausies if I have got it wrong, only been here 8 weeks, have been tryin to learn it off by heart as Charlie HAS to sing it in assembly every monday. Somthing he NEVER had to do in UK
Lesleyxx
I am Oz and take great pride in not knowing the words of the national anthem as a mark of being Australian. I recall at sporting events the words were put on the big screen because of this :)
I am Oz and take great pride in not knowing the words of the national anthem as a mark of being Australian. I recall at sporting events the words were put on the big screen because of this :)
Are you the same 'Andrew' who has the Aussie Specialist Certificate on the website under your signature? Slightly confused why you would be so proud not to know the words to your own anthem and why this would be 'a mark of being Australian'???
:?
Just traditional, but also there was a referendum in 1975 with choice between Waltzing Matilda or Advance Australia Fair to replace God Save the Queen.
Personally I am not comfortable with a lot of the flag waving and jingoism that goes (anywhere especially as popular in less democratic countries), not to mention the expression of "unAustralian" etc which has come into the argo via our present Prime Minister John Howard.
Threat of values test etc. was challenged by some of Howard's own colleagues (i.e. proper liberals) of non Anglo background as their parents would never have been eligible to take residency in Oz :(
My pride in Oz comes from people, actions etc. not so much flag or anthem...leave that for tin pot dictatorships....
we've been her 5 weeks, my daughter has spent 8 days at school and she already knows the australian national anthem - I don't even know the tune (but do know the last line!!),
Ali
I know what you mean my kids sing it around the house, as they have to sing it in there school assemblies. I am nearly 30 and i don't know the English national Anthem. I think kids should be taught the national anthem back home in there school assemblies.
stacey
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Zak sings this school assembly and i felt guilty ''humming'' ,his teacher being as understanding as she is has now lent us a disc with it on ,so i will be able to email copys (i think) to anyone who wants to know it ,,
Cal x
My daughter's school sing it all the time. The first assembly that I went to they put the words up on the board and asked everyone to join in. So I embrassed the moment of being in Oz and set off singing (or in my case yelling) at full pelt. Only to find that all the ozzies in the crowd didn't follow my lead. I was left standing there on my own, a Yorkshire lass singing her heart out, however been a true Brit I did not give up and carried on until the end .
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