G’day!
Recently I’ve had some interesting conversations with friends and unnamed colleagues which reminded me of a shock I had upon arrival in Gladstone.
A lot of people don’t know what Scotland is or where the UK is.
I’ll claim ignorance if many, many countries around the world are mentioned and a lot of what I do know is thanks to football. So considering of this I thought, well ok, that’s all continents away so ok fair enough.
But wait a minute, the history of Australia is pretty involved with that of Britain, how weird they don’t know the basic layout. The difference between the United Kingdom, Britain and the British Isles – again, fair enough, it’s all a bit of a mess. Here are the ones that surprised me:
1. Surprise that the UK is an island (and a bit)
2. Confusion that Scotland isn’t Ireland
Recently I’ve had some interesting conversations with friends and unnamed colleagues which reminded me of a shock I had upon arrival in Gladstone.
A lot of people don’t know what Scotland is or where the UK is.
I’ll claim ignorance if many, many countries around the world are mentioned and a lot of what I do know is thanks to football. So considering of this I thought, well ok, that’s all continents away so ok fair enough.
But wait a minute, the history of Australia is pretty involved with that of Britain, how weird they don’t know the basic layout. The difference between the United Kingdom, Britain and the British Isles – again, fair enough, it’s all a bit of a mess. Here are the ones that surprised me:
1. Surprise that the UK is an island (and a bit)
2. Confusion that Scotland isn’t Ireland
3. Puzzlement that Scotland isn’t part of England
4. Bewilderment that UK is part of Europe
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| for those unsure |
These were the views of quite a few otherwise intelligent people. Quite a surprise.
To share the knowledge (and show myself up for where I’m clueless) here are a few details on the 7 states of Australia.
Queensland (QLD)
My home state, Queensland. From the skyscrapers, bikies and surf of the Gold Coast up to top tip of Oz, Cape York and inland to… ok, I don’t know too much about the inland; QLD is a beautiful and most sparse place.
My home state, Queensland. From the skyscrapers, bikies and surf of the Gold Coast up to top tip of Oz, Cape York and inland to… ok, I don’t know too much about the inland; QLD is a beautiful and most sparse place.
Most well known as the home of the Great Barrier Reef. We’re not totally killing it, honest.
Capital: Brisbane
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| Whithaven Beach, half way up QLD |
Northern Territory (NT)
Sweaty. Not made it there yet. Told I could maybe get work there if I wanted but I’d possibly actually die. It’s about 30+ degC every day, all year. I struggle enough down in Gladstone.
A lot of Indigenous towns. I won’t get in to that controversial history here.
Oh yeah, Ayers Rock is there too, beside Alice Springs. That big red rock you see surrounded by nothing. That.
Capital: Darwin
Capital: Darwin
Western Australia (WA)
The home of FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) work. Working shifts are like those working on the rigs in the North Sea - 2 on 2 off, 3 and 1, whatever. The real centre of the mining boom Australia has experienced the last decade. The pace has dropped off the past year but there’s still a fair bit of work going on out there.
The home of FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) work. Working shifts are like those working on the rigs in the North Sea - 2 on 2 off, 3 and 1, whatever. The real centre of the mining boom Australia has experienced the last decade. The pace has dropped off the past year but there’s still a fair bit of work going on out there.
Capital: Perth, supposedly the most isolated city in the world
South Australia (SA)
I know very little about SA other than it has wine regions (Borassa Valley maybe? Trying not to google things after abusing people for not knowing things.) and the capital gets mocked with the name Radelaide.
Capital: Adelaide
Capital: Adelaide
Victoria (VA)
I visited for a week in winter last year. Had to wear jeans during the day on a whole 3 or 4 occasions. I was mainly in Melbourne which is an exciting city, full of street art, food and Footy matches (which is Aussie Rules in that state). It hosts events such as the Grand Prix, Australian tennis open and umpteen arty events including an attempt at the Oz version of Edinburgh fringe.
Also home of the waddling Fairy penguin at Phillip Island (recommended).
Capital: Melbourne
Also home of the waddling Fairy penguin at Phillip Island (recommended).
Capital: Melbourne
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| Fairy Penguins |
New South Wales (NSW)
Home of Sydney. There’s a bit of a theme that I haven’t got far out of city centres (other than in QLD) but I did get out to the Blue Mountains to bushwalk about the Three Sisters (which is not only a pub in Edinburgh). Hoping to see more of the state in the next few months. New Years Eve is about as wild as you’d expect there too.
Capital: Sydney
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| First sight from the train |
Tasmania (TA ? I’m not sure)
That island that people don’t think of if they’re asked to sketch Australia. Since 12,000 years ago it’s been it’s own island. From what I’ve heard it’s a pretty Scottish-on-steroids climate. They have real hard time with bushfire and economically doesn’t have any of that mining action. But what they miss out they make for with beautiful scenery. Hopefully I’ll make it over one day.
That island that people don’t think of if they’re asked to sketch Australia. Since 12,000 years ago it’s been it’s own island. From what I’ve heard it’s a pretty Scottish-on-steroids climate. They have real hard time with bushfire and economically doesn’t have any of that mining action. But what they miss out they make for with beautiful scenery. Hopefully I’ll make it over one day.
Capital: Hobart
Dammit, there’s a whole thing with Territories too. Too much to get in to for now but the AUSTRALIAN capital city is Canberra which is in nowhere Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Melbourne and Sydney fight over who is most important so they built a city that no one wanted to house a parliament and filled it with roundabouts. As you do.
Cya!
