Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Saturday 28 January 2017

26th January is Australia Day - How Australian Are You?

26th January was Australia Day, the day when we celebrate what it is to be Australian, enjoying time with family and friends, and celebrating multi-culturalism, and everything that makes Australia the wonderful place it is to live.  

On Australia Day lots of Aussies celebrate with barbecue (BBQs), go to the beach, play sport, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy fireworks if they are being held in their city.  The Australia Day Awards are also presented to Australians and groups who have contributed significantly to our country and communities, and there are also Citizenship ceremonies for those migrants who are wishing to become Australian citizens today.

 Surrounded by ocean we live in a landscape that is very diverse from snow capped mountains to deserts. We also have unique plants and wildlife. And we live in relative safety and can enjoy fresh air and wide open spaces, whilst enjoying everything that a mix of cultures brings with it.

 Please click here to discover how Australia you are....

  The other day I saw a Quiz on  Middle Aged Mama blog, and I thought I would share it with you. My apologies to all you non-Aussies out there that might follow my blog. But keep reading as you may find it enlightening!  

Quiz: How Australian are You?

How many of these have you done? Instead of ticking them off, I’ve highlighted the ones I’ve done in bold red …. Sorry the numbers mucked up when I added the photos - there should be 100 questions.
  1. Heard a kookaburra in person.
  2. Slept under the stars.
  3. Seen a koala.
  4. Visited Melbourne.
  5. Watched a summer thunderstorm.
  6. Worn a pair of thongs (flip-flops for the non-Aussies).
  7. Been to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) (you can see Uluru in the rh-corner of the collage above)
  8. Visited Cape York - tip of Queensland.
  9. Held a snake. (no thanks! but seen lots in the wild! and been right up close to one in a controlled environment
  10. Highly venomous, Western King Brown, in the wild
  11. Sang along with Khe San. (Khe Sanh (The last plane out of Sydney) lyrics from Cold Chisel's 2011 Light the Nitro tour - Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh)
  12. Drank VB. (Might have had a taste - but no I don't like beer - very un-Aussie!)
  13. Visited Sydney.
  14. Have seen a shark.
  15. Have used Aussie slang naturally in a conversation.
  16. Had an actual conversation with an indigenous Australian.
  17. Eaten hot chips wrapped in butcher's paper at the beach.
  18. Walked/climbed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. (or I will be soon!)
  19. Used an outside dunny (toilet - also known as a "long drop" because everything just drops into a deep hole under the seat), and checked under the seat for spiders before sitting down.
  20.  
    Out back dunny
  21. Seen Chloe in Young & Jackson’s.  (it’s an old nude painting in a bar in Melbourne - haven't seen it in person, but have see a picture of the painting)
  22. Slept on an overnight train or bus. (I've slept in the front seat of car in a carpark)
  23. Been to Sydney’s Mardi Gras.
  24. Have gone bush-bashing. (driving through the bush in a 4-wheel drive)
  25. Taken a sickie (day off work when you are not sick).
  26. Been to see a game of Aussie Rules football.
  27. Have seen wild camels.
  28. Wild camels
  29. Gone skinny dipping. (swum in the nude)
  30. Done a Tim Tam Slam. (ie drank hot chocolate up through a Tim Tam biscuit - ask Mr Google and you will know what I mean)
  31. Ridden in a tram in Melbourne.
  32. Been at an ANZAC day Dawn Service.
  33. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
  34. Held a wombat. (not held - but seen in the wild)
  35. Been on a road trip of 800km or more.
  36. Seen the Great Australian Bight in person.
  37. The Great Australian Bight
  38. Had a really bad sunburn. (well - redder than I should have been anyway)
  39. Visited an Aboriginal community.
  40. Seen a redback spider.
  41. Have watched Paul Hogan.
  42. Seen Blue Poles in person. (Blue Poles by American painter Jackson Pollock was one of Australia's most controversial art acquisitions)
  43. Wandered barefoot in the bush/outback. (wandered but not barefoot)
  44. Eaten Vegemite.
  45. Thrown a boomerang.
  46. Seen the Kimberleys, Western Australia
  47. The Kimberley from the air
  48. Given a hitch-hiker a lift.
  49. Been to Perth.
  50. Have tried Lemon, Lime and Bitters.
  51. Tried playing a didgeridoo.
  52. Seen dinosaur footprints.
  53. Eaten Tim Tams.
  54. Been to Darwin.
  55. Touched a kangaroo.
  56. Visited the Great Barrier Reef. (no, but been to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia)
  57. Listened to Kevin Bloody Wilson (unfortunately).
  58. Killed a Cane Toad (no but my husband has, horrible things they are)
  59. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
  60. Have read and own books by Australian authors. 
  61. Visited Adelaide.
  62. Been camping (lots!)
  63. Camping on the Nullabor
  64. Know the story behind the movie “Eternity”.
  65. Visited Brisbane.
  66. Been in an outback pub (yes on the Oodnadatta track)
  67. Know what the term “Waltzing Matilda” actually means.
  68. Gone whale watching
  69. Listened to Slim Dusty.
  70. Own five or more Australian movies or TV series.
  71. Sang along to Down Under by Men at Work. Down Under
  72. Have stopped specifically to look at an historic marker by the side of the road.
  73. Eaten a 4 N 20 pie.
  74. Surfed at Bondi. (been there but didn't go in)
  75. Watched the cricket on Boxing Day. (Probably, but not by choice)
  76. Visited Hobart.
  77. Eaten kangaroo.
  78. Seen a quokka
  79. Quokka at Rottnest
  80. Visited Canberra.
  81. Visited rainforests.
  82. Used a Victa lawnmower.
  83. Travelled on a tram in Adelaide.
  84. Used a Hills hoist.
  85. Visited Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
  86. Used native Australian plants in cooking.
  87. Visited the snow.
  88. Chosen a side in the Holden VS Ford debate.
  89. Visited the desert.
  90. Been water skiing.
  91. Read The Phantom comics (why – is it Australian? I never knew that!)
  92. Visited Parliament House.
  93. Gone spotlighting or pig-shooting.
  94. Crossed the Nullarbor.
  95. Eyre Highway, the Nullabor
  96. Avoided swimming in areas because of crocodiles.
  97. Listened to AC/DC.
  98. Called someone a dag. ( An Australian slang term. A dag is technically the matted wool on a sheep's tail, but in typical usage throughout Australia, it refers to people who don't have a neat, tidy or cultured appearance. It can also refer to a person who tends to be quite informal. It is not necessarily a derogatory term in modern usage)
  99. Voted in a Federal Election.
  100. Have been swimming and stayed between the flags.
  101. Had a possum in your roof.
  102. Visited the outback. 
  103. views from the Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
  104. Travelled over corrugated roads.
  105. Hit a kangaroo while driving (no - but close!)
  106. Been well outside any mobile phone coverage.
  107. Seen an emu in the wild.
  108. Have woken to the smell of bushfires.
  109. Patted a pure-bred dingo. (no - but have seen them in the wild)
  110. Seen Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, live.
I’ve managed 83 out of 100  …
Now it’s your turn  Aussies – are you more Australian than me?!

Many thanks to  Middle Aged Mamma's blog for this quiz, who in turn found it on a blog several years ago and kept it. Evidently it was doing the rounds at that time …
 You might have noticed a few Australian slang words in the list above. Australian slang or strine - is a language all of it's own. Check out this dictionary over on  KoalaNet. Phew - there are more Ozzie slang words than I realised mate! 
Kangaroo or as we do, shortened to "roo"
Or check out this brilliant U-Tube video from Josh Hawkins and Rhys Keir on How to Speak Australian  "If you've ever wondered what to say when Tommo asks if you "wanna go down the bowlo sarvo for a schnitty and a bevvy before watching some soapies on the telly", this explainer is for you"
There's other examples on You-Tube - like "Aussie American words" by Mark Brown. 
So that is my little look at some things unique to Australia. I hope you have enjoyed it. To my overseas readers, have you been to Australia? Perhaps you'd like to tell us what you enjoyed about it the most. Did you find our Aussie Slang difficult to decipher? Perhaps you'd like to tell us about your experience of Australia in the comments. 
 You might also enjoy my previous blog posts about Australia Day - 
2015 - Australia Day on the Beach
2014 - Celebrating Australia Day and Waltzing Matilda 
 2013 - Celebrating Australia Day - and fireworks
Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

 

Mosaic Monday 
Life Thru the Lens 

Our World Tuesday
Through My Lens 
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday
 
The Lovin' Life Team over at Lifestyle Fifty
The Weekly Postcard 
Sky Watch Friday
 

42 comments:

  1. I think I managed 73 ... I fail on the place visiting. Oh and I've never chucked a sickie, how un-Australian.
    Happy Australia Day!

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    1. sadly I have chucked a sickie - I am confess now....

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  2. Man, that is quite the long list! I have never been to Australia. Probably never will as very limited income.

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    1. at least you can visit through my photos Rose. I've never been to your country either! and I'm still wishing for a white winter!

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  3. Oops, I am not very Australian. If such a list were published of America, I'd probably fail as well. Happy Australia Day, hope the celebration was great!

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    1. We had a quiet day Jackie, but the fireworks closed the day beautiful.

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  4. Great job Jill! I would say you are a dinky-di true blue Aussie! Although I didn't take my score I think I could tick off a lot these Aussie things. It's such a great list and I did read it on Janet's blog. Happy Australia Day. :)

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    1. Happy Australia Day to you too Kathy. I was very proud of my ticks on the list.

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  5. Hi Jill,

    Happy Australia Day! By the sounds of it, your holiday is very similar to Canada's, which is called Canada Day. I'm afraid I can only relate to a few things on that very interesting list, but I enjoyed learning how to be a true Aussie!

    Your photos are fabulous, as always. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Poppy

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure every country could make a list like this! I hope life is going well for you in Canada.

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  6. You've done 82!!!!! That's amazing! I loved reading the list! What a vast and interesting place to live! Hugs!

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  7. Fab post celebrating Australia Day, I think I've done 13 or 14 from the list not bad for a non Aussie. (Must confess to having family living in NSW & Queensland whom we've visited three times!)
    Happy MM.

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    1. I'm yet to visit Queensland, so you are up on me on that one.

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  8. Nice Mosaic, have a good week

    much love...

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  9. Happy Australia Day Jill! Well I only got 25 of your questions answered with a clear YES. What a fun thing to have done...loved it and the image shares with the post are terrific. Hope you are doing well and enjoying the fruits of Summer. Winter has been quite easy here so far. Hugs to you~

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    1. Summer has been very mild here so far, with only a few really hot days in the high 30s Celsius. But I am sure more are to come with the kids going back to school on Wednesday.

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  10. Hope you had a Happy Australia Day ~ gorgeous photography and wonderful photo tour ~ thanks,

    Wishing you a happy and peaceful week ~ ^_^

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  11. Hope your Australia Day was full of fun! We worked with some Aussies (and Kiwis) in South America and I learned a few of those Aussie terms - like brekky and din-dins!

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    1. lol - my husband was told once that he had a very pronounced Aussie accent. He had fun teaching our guides some Aussie words when we were in South Africa on holidays a few years back.

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  12. I think I've done 43 but does it count if I did them in New Zealand :)

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  13. I've been to Australia and done a lot of this stuff! Even ate kangaroo and the best pate I ever had was in Parachilna made from emu!

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    1. Life Images by Jill3 February 2017 at 10:16

      I'm glad you liked the emu - wild game can either be cooked well or not cooked well.

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  14. This is quite a list! I knew you were going to score high but 82 is super! So glad to know you have had the opportunity to enjoy your country. #WordlessWednesday

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  15. I have been to Australia just once, for my honeymoon...and I miss it!!! I am glad to have had the chance to see/do some of the points in your list!

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  16. What a great list! I haven't been to Cape York or climbed over Sydney Harbour Bridge, among others, but I have done quite a lot of them - so I'm getting there :)

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    1. Life Images by Jill3 February 2017 at 10:18

      Cape York is on my wish list, and we are going to be walking over Sydney Harbour Bridge very soon. Not quite the same as climbing, but walking will suffice for me!

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  17. I scored 77. It was a fun quiz. Thanks Jill and Janet. :)

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  18. Some gorgeous shots there, though I had to skim past the pic of the snake as I'm very snake phobic!!!

    And there are A LOT of things on the list I haven't done! #teamlovinlife

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  19. What a great list, Jill! I must copy it and see how many I have achieved!

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  20. Liebe Jill,
    das sind jetzt soooooo viele Eindrücke und ganz wundershöne Bilder von Australien und den Aussis! Herrlich! Es war für mich Freude pur, dass alles sehen zu "erleben" zu dürfen!!! Vielen Dank für diesen wunderbaren Post!

    Ich war noch nie in Australien, aber dieses Land fasziniert mich schon immer! Es ist so vieles so anders als bei uns. Ich glaube duch die Weite des Landes sind die Menschen auch viel verträglicher und großzügiger! Das ist wunderbar!
    Schau doch einmal bei mir vorbei und schreibe mir, was Dir gefällt! Das wäre wundervoll!
    Alles Liebe für Dich
    Heidi

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comments Heidi. I am so glad you have enjoyed this post and my images, and hope you will drop by again to see more of my wonderful country. I look forward to visiting you on your blog. Have a fabulous weekend.

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  21. Life Images by Jill3 February 2017 at 22:31

    Translation of message from Heidi - Dear Jill,
    These are now soooooo many impressions and quite miraculous pictures of Australia and the Aussis! Be the first. It was pure joy for me to see everything "to experience"! Thanks for this wonderful post!

    I've never been to Australia, but this country has always fascinated me! It is so different so different from us. I believe that the vastness of the country makes people much more tolerable and generous! That's wonderful!
    Just drop by and write me what you like! That would be wonderful!
    All love for you
    Heidi

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  22. Wow, what an amazing collage you've got there. So Aussie!!
    #TeamLovinLife

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  23. I scored 83 out of 100! I guess I'm pretty fairdinkum Aussie! :-) #TeamLovinLife

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  24. Fun post, Jill. Loved all the images of your beautiful country. My mom visited Australia several years ago and still talks about her adventure. I actually "studied" a bit of Aussie slang for a character in one of my books. Very fun! Have a blessed weekend!

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  25. 82 - impressive! I have to say, Australia is beautiful! We had a wonderful time there over the Christmas holidays.

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  26. Jill, As always I love your photos. The aerial photos of the landscapes are my favorite in this collection. Thanks.

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  27. I ws in Australia for a month way back in 1980. I traveled mostly by bus. The highlights for me was the Great Barrier Reef and Ayrs Rock. I can remember how shocked I was that the ocean is so warm. Having been raised on the North Atlanic I was familiar with its frigid temps. Thanks for linking up. #TPThursday

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I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.