But Australian traditions are not only limited to the ones originating from Christian faith. As you remember Australia in now a vivid multicultural mix. To learn more about non-christian celebrations look THERE.
Picture credit: Snake Catcher Victoria Australia (via www.theguardian.com)
That’s not tinsel: deadly snake found curled around Australian Christmas tree ‘Tiger snakes are very good climbers,’ professional catcher says after call from surprised Melbourne woman.
Gold Rush of 1850s was a series of events that had some serious consequences for Austrailan society. We'll be talking about:
- migration and ethnic minorities
- representation and Eureka Stockade
- White Australia Policy
and
- the concept of "diggers"
Click on the picture below to read more about the era of Australian gold rush.
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GROUP PROJECT
Sorry I haven't posted the topic for your presentations earlier.
You can choose between:
1. General geography of Australia 2. General climate of Australia 3. Great Dividing Range 4. Great Barrier Reef
Most of the class will be taken up by my presentation, but please read/watch the materials below.
1. Floods and Fires
Australian weather has never been easy on the settlers. Southern regions suffer from severe fires, while the North often faces tropical cyclones and floods.
Watch a heartbreaking account of Black Saturday - the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
Watch the clip below to learn more about the 2009 Queensland Flood.
2. Federation
"At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1900, as the clock ticked into 1901 and the 20th century, whistles, gongs, church bells, rattles, pots, pans, accordions and all manner of noise-makers joined the sirens of boats on Sydney Harbour.
It was to be a special day"
Do you know what special day it was? No? Then go here to find out :-)
"Just after that midnight, a storm broke and winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour swept into Sydney. Forty points of rain drenched the harbour city.
But the New Year’s Day morning of 1901 broke clear and fine, and an eight-kilometre procession headed out to Centennial Park, just beyond Paddington, where the federation rites, uniting the erstwhile separate British colonies into one federal Commonwealth, finally took place."
