Contents Symbols of Australia 4 Australian anthems and songs 5 How do anthems and songs represent Australia? 6 ‘Advance Australia Fair’ 8 ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ 10 ‘I Am Australian’ 12 ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ 14 ‘Wild Colonial Boy’ 16 ‘Waltzing Matilda’ 18 ‘Botany Bay’ 20 ‘Click Go the Shears’ 22 ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport’ 24 ‘Home Among the Gum Trees’ 26 ‘My Island Home’ 28 Try this! 30 Glossary 31 Index 32 GLOSSARY WORDS When a word is printed in bold, click on it to find its meaning. Symbols of Australia Australian anthems Symbols of Australia represent Australia and its people. They represent our land, governments and stories. Most importantly, and songs symbols reflect our shared experiences as Australians. Australian anthems and songs are symbols of our country’s What are symbols? unique music. Some of these songs use Australian slang or Symbols can take many forms, such as objects, places and events. Some Indigenous instruments. All Australian songs tell stories about symbols are official, while others are unofficial. Official symbols include us as Australians. Some songs have a special meaning to many government flags, emblems, commemorative days and the national anthem. Australians. These are called national songs. Unofficial symbols include folk songs, foods, landmarks and icons. Why do we have anthems and songs? Why do we have symbols? National anthems often celebrate the SEARCH FOR AN ANTHEM Australian symbols have special meanings. They inspire a sense of pride and history, people, traditions and natural environment of a country. Our national In 1973, the Australian government belonging in Australians. Symbols identify us as uniquely Australian. held a competition to find a new anthem, ‘Advance Australia Fair’, national anthem to replace ‘God Save Who chooses Australian symbols? which was adopted in 1984, represents the Queen’. There were 2500 entries Some symbols are created by Australia’s Australians all around the world. National for the words of the song, called governments and other authorities. songs share important lyrics, and 1300 entries for the music. None of these were selected. Other symbols are items from our or entertaining stories culture, natural environment about a country. Our and history that have national songs bring become important to Australians together Australians over time. as one. AUSTRALIA Sports teams, such as the The shape of Australia’s Australian rugby team, coastline, as seen on this globe, often sing our national is one of the most recognisable anthem before an symbols of the country. important match. 4 5 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 Who writes our anthems and songs? How do anthems and Australian anthems and songs are written by people with very different backgrounds. Some are poets, composers, members of rock songs represent Australia? bands, comedians and country music artists. Not all of these people are Australian. Peter Dodds McCormick, who wrote our national Australian anthems and songs represent Australia as a young anthem, was originally from Scotland. country with an Indigenous heritage that includes the oldest continuous living cultures in the world. Our national anthem celebrates the best of Australia’s history, people and natural environment. It inspires patriotism in Australians. Some Australian anthems and songs are funny and light-hearted. They represent Australia’s cheeky and rebellious spirit. Peter Dodds McCormick did not use Types of anthems and songs his own name when he published A national anthem is the official song of a country. Most countries have ‘Advance Australia Fair’. Instead, he used the name ‘Amicus’, which just one national anthem. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ is Australia’s national means ‘friend’ in Latin. anthem. Australia also has many national songs, a number of which are folk songs. These are traditional songs that share and celebrate the experiences of ordinary people. Modern Australian national songs come in different forms. They may be moving ballads, funny singalong songs, protest songs or pop songs that make people want to dance! Some of these national songs are considered unofficial anthems of Australia. SONGS ABOUT TOWNS Some of our national songs are about Australian towns. In 1962, ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ was a hit for singer Lucky Starr on the Australian music charts. It lists more than 90 Australian towns. To see if your town is on the list, visit this website: http://www.ivebeeneverywhere.com.au/ Many Australians enjoy singing national songs ?page_id=10 around a camp fire. 6 7 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 ‘Advance Australia Fair’ ‘Advance Australia Fair’ ‘Rejoice’ means ‘celebrate’ ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was declared Australia’s national Australians all let us rejoice, or ‘be happy’. Australia is free of wars For we are young and free; anthem on 19 April 1984. The national anthem is an official and no longer a colony. Australian soil is rich with We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; natural resources, such as gold. ‘Toil’ means ‘work’. song that represents Australia and its people. Peter Dodds ‘Girt’ means ‘surrounded’. Our home is girt by sea; McCormick composed ‘Advance Australia Fair’ in the late 1800s. Australia is an island, Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Australia has a diverse surrounded by seas. natural environment, It was first performed in public in 1878. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ Of beauty rich and rare; with rainforests, deserts, In history’s page, let every stage bushland and beaches. is a song about Australia. ‘Advance’ means to patriotic progress, or move ahead. Advance Australia Fair. How is it a symbol of Australia? In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. ‘Fair’ can mean ‘beautiful’, Through simple yet inspiring lyrics, ‘Advance Australia Fair’ symbolises ‘honest’ or ‘reasonable’. our country’s natural environment and hopes for the future. The national The Southern Cross is Beneath our radiant Southern Cross a group of stars easily We’ll toil with hearts and hands; The Commonwealth of seen in the Southern Australia was formed on anthem is sung on official occasions, such as government ceremonies, Hemisphere. It is a To make this Commonwealth of ours 1 January 1901, a day symbol used on many also known as Federation. international sports events and school assemblies. The national anthem Australian flags, including Renowned of all the lands; unites all Australians in song. our national flag. For those who’ve come across the seas This refers to the many We’ve boundless plains to share; migrants who have made Australia home. With courage let us all combine ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was sung by a choir of 10 000 at celebrations marking To Advance Australia Fair. Federation on 1 January 1901 in In joyful strains then let us sing, Sydney, New South Wales. Advance Australia Fair. AUSTRALIA’s naTIONAL ANTHEMS ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was Australia’s second national anthem. Our first national anthem was ‘God Save the Queen’, which is the national anthem of the United Kingdom. It became the Australian national anthem in 1788 with the arrival of the first British settlers. 8 9 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 Macmillan Digital Library: Symbols of Australia © Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9186 5 ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ In some parts of I’ve been to cities that never close down, Australian songwriter and entertainer Peter Allen wrote Australia, it is illegal to From New York to Rio and old London town, ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ in 1980. It became very popular open shops on Sundays. Until the 1950s and But no matter how far or how wide I roam, 1960s, most Australian in Australia and was soon considered a national song. Allen public bars closed at I still call Australia home. had been living in the United States for many years when he 6 p.m. Australians have the I’m always travelling, I love being free, freedom to travel anywhere in the world. wrote ‘I Still Call Australia Home’. The sun and the sea And so I keep leaving the sun and the sea, are popular symbols of Australia is surrounded Australia’s weather and But my heart lies waiting over the foam, by seas. ‘Foam’ refers outdoor lifestyle. How is it a symbol of Australia? I still call Australia home. to sea foam carried by the waves. ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ is a moving song about love for Australia Many Australians All the sons and daughters spinning ’round the world, travel overseas. Each and longing for home. It is symbolic of how many Australians feel when month, around 565 000 Away from their family and friends, Australians leave But as the world gets older and colder, travelling or living overseas. Australia on business As we grow older, many trips or holidays. It’s good to know where your journey ends. of us long to be at home. Australians leave A NATIONAL SONG IN ADVERTISEMENTS But someday we’ll all be together once more, the country knowing Peter Allen often performed in they have a place to In 2009, 13-year-old Torres Strait Islander When all of the ships come back to the shore, call home. costumes, such as this vest printed Peter Allen is saying Tyus Arndt sang ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ that despite living Then I realise something I’ve always known, with the Australian flag, to show overseas, he has always he was a proud Australian.