WHO WE ARE: Welcome to your new country

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

To discuss if we should move from the cultural cringe to the cultural strut, go to The Tribal Mind.

A column about Australia by David Dale, published in The Sun-Herald, 24/1/2010
They don't get it, they just don't get it. Too many people have yet to work out that Australia in 2010 is a different country from Australia in 1960 - as different as France is from Italy or Vietnam is from Thailand.

I don't mean we speak a different language - though that's partly true. It's more a matter of tastes, attitudes and beliefs. When was the last time you ate a lamington? When was the last time you called a woman a sheila, unless with tongue-in-cheek? Or quoted a line from The Man From Snowy River? Or discussed Don Bradman's batting average? Or admired Paul Hogan? Or ordered a cup of tea or a schooner of Toohey's?

But many of the broadcasters of this land seem not to have noticed this change. Over the past two weeks I've been promoting a new release called The Little Book of Australia, which attempts to portray this nation in the 21st century. I've been answering questions from talk jocks who live in a world of nostalgia. One asked: "David, tell us how Australia has changed in 50 years - I hope not much." I replied that Australia had transformed from one of the most boring places on the planet to one of the most interesting, because we embraced change. We became early adopters of new ideas in technology, food, entertainment and people. The love of novelty is now part of the national character - not something that would have been said about Australia in 1960.

The book's subtitle is "A snapshot of who we are", and it's no coincidence that it includes the name of this column. This reflects the help I've received in the past five years from hundreds of readers who went to the web page and offered insights. Now I'm seeking your input again. Please study the list below, then go to Comments and add your own comparisons ...

The old Australia/ The new Australia
Chiko roll/ Chicken wrap.
Eddie McGuire/ Shaun Micallef.
Owyagoin?/ Wassup?
Tea with milk and sugar/ Skim latte.
Kerry Packer/ Kerry Stokes.
Pizza with pineapple and ham/ Pizza with figs and prosciutto.
Hey Hey It's Saturday/ Thank God You're Here.
Passionfruit pavlova/ Mango gelato.
Police arresting participants in Mardi Gras/ Police becoming participants in Mardi Gras.
Albert Namitjira/ Emily Kngwarreye.
Ben Ean Moselle/ Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc.
Hey Dad/ Packed To The Rafters.
Tomato sauce/ Tomato paste.
Soy sauce/ Chilli sauce.
Fast Forward/ The Chaser's War on Everything.
Crocodile Dundee/ Mao's Last Dancer.
national plate Bob Hawke/ Julia Gillard.
Sweet and sour pork/ Pad Thai noodles.
John Laws/ Kyle Sandilands.
Don Bradman/ Shane Warne.
Sheila/ Chick.
Bloke/ Guy.
Dag/ Retard.
VCR/ DVD.
Iced Vo Vos/ Tim tams.
Barry Humphries/ Chris Lilley.
Fish and chips/ Sushi.
Geoffrey Blainey/ Tim Flannery.
Homicide/ Underbelly.
Bert Newton/ Hamish Blake.
Chicken Maryland/ Butter chicken.
Mel Gibson/ Sam Worthington.
Meat pie/ Gozleme with mince beef.
Kylie Minogue/ Ruby Rose.
Vegemite/ Nutella.
Thongs/ Havianas.
John Farnham/ Guy Sebastian
Corn flakes/ Muesli.
The transistor radio/ The iPod.
Lamingtons/ Cupcakes.

While you're extending the list at Comments, below, tell us which transformations were for the better and which for the worse.

To win a copy of The Little Book of Australia, go to The patriotic quiz.

David Dale is the author of The Little Book of Australia -- A snapshot of who we are (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Holden/Toyota. In 1960 we had no choice but Holden - a Falcon had only just appeared it was hopelessly too American. We were the first nation in the world outside Japan to have a Japanese car manufacture as our No.1 brand (1990) and although the Commodore is still (just) our No.1 model, Toyota has been no.1 brand for most years since. Back in the 80's we had 5 manufactures competing under quota's for a total market of only 450,000 - now we have over 300 models to choose, from all over the world, and a market of around 1 million. And car's have never been cheaper. In 1986 a top-line Merc or BMW would have cost around 3 times a median family home (outside Sydney - there it would have been twice). Now the same make could be had for only around 60% of the median house price. Who says we aren't rich?

by youbetcha on January 23, 2010 at 09:30 PM

self reliance/nanny state

Australian society is by far for the worse now compared to 1960s. Laws and regulations micromanage every tiny part of life, as if we are cradle-to-grave infants. Whatever happened to personal decision-making and individual choice?

by mareeS on January 24, 2010 at 03:51 AM

Friendly pubs/vomit and violence filled beer barns
No European cafe culture/no European cafe culture
Sensible speed limits/boredom and falling asleep at the wheel
Personal freedom/nanny state
Not all bad though

by Malcolm on January 24, 2010 at 05:28 AM

Having lived through the period and more, I agree that Australia is far more interesting now. However, you've got a lot of things wrong. First, my new suggestions: telegrams/email; patrick white/tim winton; peter corris/peter temple . As for the list, 1)Packer was a feared and extremely powerful man, like his father. Stokes doesn't fit the bill. 2)Eddy Maguire? Dont you mean Graham Kennedy? 3)Tomato sauce goes on the pie, tomato paste goes into the cooking 4) I love Julia, cant wait til she's PM, but she'll never have the charisma of the drinking, gambling, womanising Hawkie. 5) Shane Warne, are you kidding? He'll never have the icon status of the stitched-up Don. 6) Most people I know still eat fish and chips 7) Blainey and Flannery represent different things 8) Poor Kylie. She's not that old!

by Brigid Tancred on January 24, 2010 at 06:57 AM

I refer to your quiz in the sun herald on Jan 24. Australia's property's have never been referred to as ranches. I remind you of the first line of the poem which clearly refers to a station. I am afraid your in the wrong country.

by maree Robb on January 24, 2010 at 07:59 AM

Why did Australians rename a patty cake as a cupcake? Why do we persist in collecting US terminology and using it as our everyday language? I walk on a footpath, use a mobile phone, I do fill my car with LPG but also petrol. Why do we use "gotten" in any sentence? I eat biscuits and often refer to them as a bicky, not a cookie! I know the world is evolving, but we are Australian, we have our own terms that many a Yank has taken home and enjoyed. Let's keep our language. Let's exercise it daily.

by Aussiegirl on January 24, 2010 at 10:01 AM

I don't think you found Kylie, Eddie, Mel, VCRs, Croc Dundee or Hey Dad in 1960. Perhaps the definitions of 'old' and 'new' Australia could be tightened up a bit to distinguish true social change from current fads (Flannery, Micallef, Ruby, Sandilands and Sebastian being examples of the latter). Oh, and Aussiegirl at 10.01, you are spot on!

by Bloke on January 24, 2010 at 10:26 AM

Newspapers/ on-line websites
Typewriters/ laptops
Commentary colums like David Dale's/ blogs
Holdens/Audis
Housewives/career mums
Cook and eat at home/take-away
Grungy pub food/ $10 steaks with
Table cloths in restaurants/ butchers' paper
Black boards/ white boards/ powerpoint
presentations
Muzak in lifts/on-line,digital, flatscreen live TV updates
Stockbrokers/"wealth" managers
Fans with wet towels/reverse-cycle air-conditioning
Stereo cassette decks/CDs & surround sound
Pens, pencils, envelopes and stamps/e-mail

by Andrew on January 24, 2010 at 10:48 AM

grease proof paper/zip lock bag
dripping/olive oil
back verandah/patio/terrace
gravy/sauce, jus,aoli
rissoles/gourmet burgers
baby oil/sunscreen
velvet or sunlight soap/liquid hand wash
pictures/movies
Ayres Rock/Uluru
photo album/digital photo frame
land line/mobile phone
post card/facebook
boxed dinner set/Maxwell and Williams
feather duster/microfibre cloths
elbow grease/spray on cleaner
lino/vinyl
TV/flat screen
cracker night/?

by Nettie on January 24, 2010 at 11:51 AM

I hate the Americanisation of our Language with words like guys being used to address me and my wife. I hate being called a guy when I am a bloke. I hate the American pronunciation of demand and command.
I hate the common use of foul language.
I hate graffiti and vandalism.
I hate tattoos, especially on women.
I hate face piercing.
I hate the lack of courtesy, children don't step aside on the footpath to let older people pass. The walk straight at you.
I hate the bird.
I hate being interrupted while anyone answers a mobile phone, I am there in person, the caller can take their turn.
I hate the way people dress down to go shopping.
I hate the way mothers pick up their children from school dressed like sexy tarts in a raunchy car wash film clip.
I hate the way I can't leave my push bike unattended. Once upon a time I could park my push bike all day and it was safe.
Vegemite with waves of butter on toast with hot tea from a pot is still unbeatable.

by Michael Matchett on January 24, 2010 at 12:26 PM

I agree with David that Australia is a more interesting country now than in 1960. However, speed,convenience, and instant everything-including gratification seem to rule supreme. Aussiegirl was spot on, and also Michael at 12.26pm.
I hate also the loss of personal attention we received at the local grocery and hardware store, now replaced with supermarkets and Bunnings.
I hate the lack of courtesy and rudeness shown by our youths.
Bullying at our schools is now a huge problem, almost unheard of years ago.
I hate having to lock everything including our own front door, especially when home.
I also hate being too afraid to walk even a short distance anywhere alone at night.

by Nola on January 24, 2010 at 02:05 PM

John Farnham/Guy Sebastian was one for the worse - though come to think of it John Farnham/John Farnham could also be a comparison because John is still very much here

by Sue on January 24, 2010 at 03:01 PM

I think you could say that ï¿½a snapshot of who/whom we areï¿½ï¿½. is any place in time. It may be my time, my parents and grandparents time or my childrenï¿½s time. Each snap shot will be different.
We often use history as a comparison or marker of change. I think we reflect on our experiences and look toward the future expecting that things have and will change ï¿½ how routine if it didnï¿½t. Individual encounters will determine if some changes are better or worse than ï¿½beforeï¿½.
Also, what we compare to is wrought by many things. What we hang on to (both in tangible form and in memories) can be influenced by a myriad of variables.
Economic and social environments, the development of technology and communications (for better or worse), personal experiences, education and family dynamics all influence who we are at a point in time, be it collectively or as an individual.
That being said, in anyoneï¿½s recollection nothing beats nostalgia or a trip down memory lane ï¿½.I remember when we had toï¿½.. I canï¿½t believe we used to do that?ï¿½..If we knew then what we know nowï¿½.Those were the days..ï¿½.. Thank God for weï¿½ve moved onï¿½..It doesnï¿½t taste like it used toï¿½. Itï¿½s not as big as I rememberï¿½ï¿½.What on earth was I wearing?... I canï¿½t wait untilï¿½.and the list goes on.
The world of nostalgia goes hand in hand with embracing change ï¿½ itï¿½s what we build on ï¿½ like renovating the house as the need arises or the social influence directs. We need to have snapshots of who we are now to see how far weï¿½ve come and where we may be heading.

by Nettie on January 24, 2010 at 04:46 PM

I acknowledge it is a light hearted piece, but I'm saddened by the careless use of the term 'retard'. You dishonour those Australians with intellectual disabilities, and their families. I'd like to think Australians are more tolerant, and more thoughtful.

by KP on January 24, 2010 at 07:43 PM

Cracker night/New Year's Eve.
Chesty Bonds/Calvin Klein.
Cowboys & Indians/Wii Sports.
Margaret Fulton/Jamie Oliver.
VB/Heineken.
Golden Gaytime/Magnum.
Neopolitan/French Vanilla.
The Brady Bunch/The Simpsons.
International Roast/Espresso machine.
B/W TV/Home theatre.

The changes are mixed; we've become more open, sophisticated 7 multicultural, which makes Oz more vibrant, interesting & deep. Yet we've also become affluent and have incredibly high expectations of life and a high standard of living that can't be sustained.

by Graeme Tutt on January 25, 2010 at 09:25 AM

Right on! I agree with lots of the comments, but suggest that retard, Kyle Sandilands, and wassup may have passed their use by date. Instead of 'wassup' I hear 'Hey!'. An alternate for John Farnham is Tex Perkins - a man for all seasons.
BTW, gotten I think is old english?

by Jules on January 25, 2010 at 01:15 PM

about the old and new Australia:
safer streets/ no go zone now after dark
respect/ respect for nothing or nobody now
very low crime rate/ 10 folds higher
employment everywhere/ unemployment today
kids free of danger/ kids in danger daily
nice country to live/now it's in a mess
nice country to live/criminals and thugs everywhere
graffiti very rare/ now everywhere
pubs closed at 10pm/now all night long
rarely drunk on streets/now like a plague
low cost of living/ now sky high
more control on immigration/ now? open door
honest government/now corruption everywhere
National manufacturing/ now " Made in China"
cleaner public transport/ now stinks
I could go for ever, but maybe another day
The only think that have changed in a positive way is the variety of food and cultures,( not all of them of course)

by William Rhodes on January 25, 2010 at 09:37 PM

As a baby boomer I have embraced the wave of change known as the sixties and beyond, but I cant help feeling a little anxious when;
Yo-Yos became a Nintendo DS
Mental Arithmetic became the calculator
Anonymity became celebrity obsession
Walking to school became Mum's taxi
Collecting empties and cashing them in at the corner shop for lollies became land fill
Cracker night became a fireworks display
School spirit became what's in it for me?
Adjectives became profanity
Self-discipline became legislation, by-laws and ordinances
Popular music now carries warning labels
Acceptance of guilt became somebody else's fault
The six o'çlock swill became teenage binge drinking
10 o'çlock closing became a 24/7 booze up
Public holidays became discount sales
Shopping became a national pastime
A lottery ticket became a sratchie, Lotto, Oz Lotto and Powerball
The backyard became a courtyard
Orphanages became subsidised child care centres
Parents became child micro-managers
The great Australian dream became a Harvey Norman sale slogan
Every weekend became a marketing opportunity.
In the words of Don McLean we may have been,"a generation lost in space", but at least we had some to be kids in!

by Mike Williams on January 26, 2010 at 09:06 AM

I like the diversity of Australia but I HATE the way we have all been turned from human beings into economic units who have to keep increasing productivity.
roses / grevilleas.
made in Australia / made in China.
sprinklers / trigger nozzles.
2BR, 1 bathroom, 1 lounge/ 4BR, 3.5 bathrooms, rumpus, family, dining and entertainment rooms.
dragster bikes / mountain bikes
Aussie Rules / soccer.
long weekend for Australia day / taking a sickie to make it a long weekend!

(BTW - have you noticed that NSW doesn't have gazetted holidays for Xmas or Boxing day this year.....?)

by Jakkles on January 28, 2010 at 07:05 PM

easy going larrikins / pretentious types
Better or worse? Not sure.
most boring country in the world / most boring country in the world
progressive youth / regressive redneck youth

by Philip Hyndman on January 28, 2010 at 08:26 PM

Meat Pie / what? I think you might have to get out of Paddington a little more. Meat Pies are still there, with sauce as well, not tomatoe paste.

by philip hyndman on January 28, 2010 at 08:41 PM

Dislike intensely being called a 'guy' - it seems to be extended to animals, plants, inanimate objects - you can call me a 'sheila' any day
My worry is with words that creep in and try to oust perfectly good ones which have been in use for a long time:
Cookie for biscuit
Cowboy for station hand/ringer/stockman or for rodeo rider/buckjumper/etc
Ranch - anywhere, but particularly for a station
Movies for pictures/flicks
Ass for other than a donkey
24/7 for all day
Chowing down for eating

by Melva on February 06, 2010 at 10:34 AM

low cost utility bills/credit card utility bill payment
annual holidays at self-owned weekender/no holidays
steak every night/can't afford meat
university scholarships for the bright/meaningless degrees at high cost for anyone
hospital care provide by best doctors at little or no cost/expensive medical funds don't guarantee medical care
affordable home ownership on 1 income/declining home ownership on 2+ incomes
new car every couple of years/hope to hell old car doesn't break down
guaranteed old age pension/government leaves you high and dry
people knew where to walk on the footpath/people don't know where they are walking on the footpath due to drugs, alcohol or mobile phones
people knew how to get on and off public transport in a civilised fashion/public transport is not part of civilisation
full employment guaranteed by government/5% unemployment and massive underemployment regarded as a major achievement
sailing overseas/crammed into a terrorist target to go overseas
the country had a future/the country denigrates its own past
A couple of other quaint ones that occurred to me:
In 1960, men and women lived in genuine and absolute fear that communists would take over the country, and force women to go to work when their children turned 7, leaving the children in state-run childcare agencies. Now women are demanding the government provide childcare virtually from birth so they can leave their children and go to work.
In 2010, even children's conversations are littered with the vilest expletives and profanities. In 1960, labourers and wharfies would use sterms like "plurry", "blinky" or "blessed" to avoid giving offence by using the term "bloody" -- even "crikey" was used originally to avoid offending Christians.

by Professor Rosseforp on February 21, 2010 at 05:47 AM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

WHO WE ARE: Welcome to your new country

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