Take a trip to Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is comprised of the Mainland, the island of Tasmania and several other small islands, for a total of 2 , 969, 907 square miles surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.
Australia is known for the Syd- ney Great Reef and a vast Outback (interior deserts). Unique animals identified within the country are the kangaroo, koala and platypus.
Indigenous Australians can be traced back for 50,000 years or so. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders may date back 125,000 years. Among these natives there were 250 languages. This “middle of nowhere” was dis- covered by Dutch explorers in 1606. It was claimed by Great Britain in 1770.
The country functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. It is divided into six states and several territories. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and West Australia Territory. The two territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the North Territory. The Senate (Upper House) is comprised of 76 senators – 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the territories. The 150 House of Representative (Lower House) members are allocated on the basis of population. The population of Australia is more than 24 million people, with much of the population concentrated on the eastern side of the country, along the coast.
Australia and the United States have a close association through the ANZUS, as a well-developed relationship with Asia and the Pacific. They also have pursued strong ties with international trade.
Australia is made up of evergreen forests, particularly eucalyptus trees, tropical rain forests, mountain ranges, deserts and a semi-arid outback area. It is the driest inhabited continent on earth.
A majority of Australians emigrated from the British Isles during World War II. Many Australians claim British and Irish background. Population growth runs high. Two out of every seven Austra- lians were born in another country.
English with a distinctive accent is spoken in this area called “the down under.” Today, only 20 of the 250 indigenous languages are spoken – mostly by the older population. There is a sign language known as Auston – the main language of the 5,500 people making up the deaf population.
Life expectancy is high in Australia, which is unusual, as skin cancer is high on the list of the country’s agenda. Additionally, 63 percent of the population is either overweight or obese. Universal Health Care, called Medicare, was established in 1975.
The city of Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the most populated area located on the east side coast. Note that the capital city of the entire country, Canberra, is also located in this area. Sydney is the most wellknown city due to its picturesque skyline and the Sydney Opera House located on the harbor.
“Throw another shrimp on the barbie” is a very unpopular phrase to native Aussies. It was part of an ad campaign directed to tourists from the U.S. Shrimp are not naturally found anywhere in the waters around Australia. What is found are prawns, similar to shrimp, but not shrimp. The Aussies are very touchy about this subject.
Most likely due to their British and Irish ancestry, meat pies are a favorite Australian food. With ingredients ranging from seafood to red meats, lamb was voted a national favorite.
The first cattle arrived about 1788. A bull, four cows and a bull calf were imported to work on the docks, and used for transporting goods and bleeding. By 1795, 61 animals could be found grazing in pastures. Also, with the arrival of 131 more cattle in 1795, after a slow start, production of beef grew into a major industry in Australia.
Australia is the fourth largest exporter of wines in the world. Beer has been a long time favorite since colonial times. There is also a distinct coffee culture. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, rum served as currency.
Australian cuisine uses a wide variety of fruits – usually fresh, not cooked. The Granny Smith apple was cultivated in the south part. Crippe Pink apples, known as Pink Lady apples, were first cultivated in Australia in 1973.
Creamy Prawn Pot Pies with Minted Peas