2012/12/31
2012/12/25
Sydney - Hobart race
The latest news on the race HERE
And that's the official website for the race with all the fancy interactive maps and whatsnot ;)
2012/12/23
Another brilliant doco about Australia
You may know Tony Robinson from Blackadder (Czarna Żmija) - he was the loyal, if not very bright, servant to Rowan Atkinson.
Here he hosts a 6 episode documentary about Australian history and culture. A very comprehensive and quite funny take on these subjects. I'm linking the pilot episode which is longer (almost 2 hours) and you can find other parts in the video feed of the user who uploaded it.
Here he hosts a 6 episode documentary about Australian history and culture. A very comprehensive and quite funny take on these subjects. I'm linking the pilot episode which is longer (almost 2 hours) and you can find other parts in the video feed of the user who uploaded it.
It's not compulsory watching but the doco is great! So IF you have some spare time, have a look.
2012/12/18
Christmas in Australia in songs
Funny version:
Aussie Jingle Bells
Lyrics here. Pay attention to typically australian words and expressions.
The most beautiful "secular" Christmas song. Again the animation tells you a lot about what the holiday is like in Oz.
White wine in the Sun
Lyrics.
It IS a bit rude, so hope no one feels offended. The fun is guessing the words which rhyme with the end of the prevous line but are never actually pronounced.
Aussie Jingle Bells
Lyrics here. Pay attention to typically australian words and expressions.
The most beautiful "secular" Christmas song. Again the animation tells you a lot about what the holiday is like in Oz.
White wine in the Sun
"Rude" version:
Christmas Day Song
Lyrics.
It IS a bit rude, so hope no one feels offended. The fun is guessing the words which rhyme with the end of the prevous line but are never actually pronounced.
Kelpie
KOKO, the Red Cloud Kelpie which starred in hit Australian film Red Dog, has died peacefully in Perth.
The seven-year-old had been diagnosed with congestive heart disease in early 2012 and had been receiving treatment but succumbed to the disease.
Red Dog producer Nelson Woss, who became Koko's owner after forming a close bond with him during the film shoot, said he was devastated to have lost his best mate.
"Through the making of Red Dog, Koko became Australia’s favourite dog. He certainly changed my life forever," Mr Woss said.
"I will miss his companionship, his remarkable outgoing, friendly nature and the many long walks that we enjoyed together in Perth and around the country. His incredible journey has come to an end."
The film's director, Kriv Stenders, said he saddened by the loss of his star.
"Ironically it reflects the theme of the film it taught us about the cycles of life," Stenders said.
"The preciousness of friendship and loyalty, and I think personally I feel like I learnt a lot from Koko.
"I knew he was having a bit of battle, but he had reprieve a month ago.
"For a short seven years, he certainly made a big difference."
Feel-good film Red Dog was based on the novel by Louis de Bernieres, about the true story of the kelpie who wandered the WA outback in the 1970s.
Koko starred alongside actors Josh Lucas and Rachael Taylor in the film, which grossed more than $21 million at the Australian box office in 2011 and became the eighth-highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Koko was the true star of Red Dog and was awarded Best Dog in a Foreign Film at the inaugural Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles. A portrait of him by artist Adam Cullen received a special commendation at the 2012 Archibald prize.
A video of Koko's audition has received more than 300,000 hits on YouTube. Originally a show dog, he learned more than 50 commands from animal trainer Luke Hura for the film.
Woss has suggested that Koko's fans make a donation in his name to the Shenton Park Dog Refuge where he was an unofficial ambassador.
2012/12/16
Christmas in Australia
More will come so watch this space, but we can start with this nostalgic clip ;)
2012/12/11
2012/12/09
Tuesday presentations
Just to remind you who is doing what:
GENERAL CLIMATE - Tasmania
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - Queensland
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY - Victoria
THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE - South Australia
Please make sure your presentations don't take longer than 8-9 minutes.
GENERAL CLIMATE - Tasmania
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - Queensland
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY - Victoria
THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE - South Australia
Please make sure your presentations don't take longer than 8-9 minutes.
2012/12/05
G: Gold Rush - cont.
From the australia.gov.au website:
Read more by clicking on the picture below.
Watch a video about Eureka Stockade - the only revolution ever in Australia.
Still want more details? Click here.
The gold rushes of the nineteenth century and the lives of those who worked the goldfields - known as 'diggers' - are etched into our national folklore.
There is no doubt that the gold rushes had a huge effect on the Australian economy and our development as a nation. It is also true to say that those heady times had a profound impact on the national psyche.
The camaraderie and 'mateship' that developed between diggers on the goldfields is still integral to how we - and others - perceive ourselves as Australians. The diggers' defiance and open disdain of authority during this time is still a dominant theme in any discussion of our history and national identity.
Indeed, mateship and defiance of authority have been central to the way our history has been told. Look at Australia's World War I 'diggers' (named after their goldfield predecessors) at Gallipoli and how they have been portrayed: mates in the trenches with a healthy disrespect for their 'English superiors'.
Even today, nothing evokes more widespread national pride than groups of irreverent Aussie 'blokes' beating the English at cricket, or any other sport for that matter!
It is this early flowering of a national identity that makes any study of the gold rush days so intriguing. It is also true to say that the idealisation of goldfield life excludes or overlooks the squalor, greed, crime, self-interest and racism that were part and parcel of the times.
Read more by clicking on the picture below.
Watch a video about Eureka Stockade - the only revolution ever in Australia.
Still want more details? Click here.
2012/12/03
G: Gold Rush and Great Depression
And we're back to Australian history. Two vital events this week. We'll spend around 20 minutes talking about gold discovery and its consequences (my presentation) and then we'll move on to some practical tasks connected with the Great Depression. Read and watch the materials below.
The Great Depression
Follow this link to read about historical background and the events that led to depression.
Visit our trusted Australian Screen website to watch some clips taken from a TV documentary "Bread and Dripping". Read teacher's notes to get a broader context.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3
Have fun and good luck in the class :)
The Great Depression
Follow this link to read about historical background and the events that led to depression.
Visit our trusted Australian Screen website to watch some clips taken from a TV documentary "Bread and Dripping". Read teacher's notes to get a broader context.
Clip 1Clip 2
Clip 3
Have fun and good luck in the class :)
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