Abbreviating words

•Australians tend to abbreviate and alter word endings, resulting in some of the following:

•'barbie' for barbecue

•'arvo' for afternoon

•'cossie' for swimming costume

•'mozzie' for mosquito

•'tellie' for television

BYO & “Bring a plate”

• “Bring a plate” is when you are invited to a party and asked to bring a dish of food to share with your host and other guests. It is a common tradition here in Australia.

• BYO is usually on a written invitation to a party, or is written outside a restaurant. This means 'bring your own' drink. (alcohol or soft drink/juice)

or with a group at a

restaurant• In a restaurant, it is customary to wait until everyone is seated at the table and have received their meal before starting to eat. This is a form of etiquette in Australia.

•If you are at someone’s home, you wait for the lady of the house to start eating before anyone else does. This may vary, but if she says “please start” then do so.

Blowing your nose/ coughing in public

•Most Australians blow their noses into a handkerchief or tissue, not onto the footpath.

Many people will also say, 'Bless you' when you sneeze. This phrase has no religious intention, but culturally probably came from Christianity.

•If you cough, you usually cover your mouth with your hand.

•Spitting is considered extremely rude

Famous people

• Who is the PM?

Kevin Rudd – 26th Prime Minister of Australia, sworn in on 3 December, 2007.

•Qld State Premier – MP Ms Anna Bligh

•Reigning Monarch – Queen Elizabeth II

2009 Public Holidays

1 Jan New Year's Day

26 Jan Australia Day

10 Apr Good Friday, Sat 11 Apr Easter Saturday Mon 13 Apr Easter Monday

25 April Anzac Day

4 May Labour Day

8 June Queen's Birthday

25 Dec Christmas Day, 26 Dec Boxing Day Holiday http://alldownunder.com/oz-k/index.html

Daylight Saving

•Also known as “summer time”

•Note that QLD and the NT do not participate in Daylight Saving.

In the ACT, NSW, SA, VIC and TAS

•It begins 2 am EST the first Sunday in October (turn clock ahead 1 hour)

•Ends 2 am EST the first Sunday in April (turn clock back 1 hour)

Famous Aussie Movies:

•Crocodile Dundee

•The Man from Snowy River

•Romper Stomper - the movie which launched Russell Crowe

•Priscilla Queen of the Desert

•Finding Nemo

•Gallipolli

•Muriel’s Wedding

•The Dish

•Chopper

•Rabbit Proof Fence

Actors, Entertainers &

Artists

•Famous Artists:

Arthur Boyd, Pro Hart, Ken Done, Norman Lindsay

•Famous Actors:

•Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Mel Gibson

•Nicole Kidman,Cate Blanchett

Famous Bands/Singers:

•Savage Garden

•INXS

•Kylie Minogue

•Midnight Oil

•Pete Murray

•Johnny Farnham

•Silverchair

•Jimmy Barnes