January 26 is Australia Day in Australia, a national summer holiday celebrated with beer, BBQ’s and a long weekend! For those that think that may know all there is to know about Australia, here are a few fun facts that you might not have been aware of.
POISON PLATYPUS - They may be the cutest thing ever…but, the humble platypus has venom strong enough to kill a small dog. The poison is delivered via small spurs on their back legs. In one case report, a 57-year-old man who grabbed one of the small mammals while fishing said the pain was “so bad I started to become incoherent”.
BLOKES PARADISE - In Australia there are almost 100,000 more women than men, with six out of our eight states and territories experiencing a man drought. But this is evening out. Currently there are almost 105 baby boys born for every 100 baby girls born in Australia.
HUMP DAY - An estimated 750,000 camels roam our deserts, the largest number of pure-bred camels in the world. We even export them to the Middle East. They were brought here in the 1800s to help open up the interior, and were integral in the building of telegraph lines spanning the country at the time.
HOT PINK PANTS - In the Australian state of Victoria, it is illegal to wear hot pink pants after midday Sundays, though Labor’s MP Martin Foley made a commitment during the 2014 election campaign to repeal the law.
OPENING CREDIT - The movie business actually began in Australia. The world’s first feature film was made in Australia in 1899 by the Salvation Army. Soldiers of the Cross focused on the life and deaths of early Christian martyrs and ran for 2.5 hours. It was first screened in 1901. (* There is some dispute as to whether Soldiers of the Cross was a movie per se. Never fear, The Story of the Kelly Gang in 1906 is recognised as the world’s first feature)
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO: The music is based around “Hey Ya” by Outkast, but uses the lyrics from the Australian National Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMdbVHPmCW0&feature=youtu.be Checkout our Oz Facts on our website for more Australian Facts
By Meg Boyd
Melbourne-born Meg arrived in Canada in January with no winter coat, one suitcase, a one week booking at a youth hostel, and a sight-unseen job offer at Goway Travel. She thought she’d stay for a year – that was 12 years ago! Never one to shy away from adventure, Meg has been in the industry for 23 years and has journeyed extensively through Europe, Asia and North America. Meg’s heart however belongs to the South Pacific, including New Zealand, Fiji, and her native Australia.
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