JMR's blog

Selling Queensland with a dream job

From BBC: 34,000 people in 200 countries applied for the Best Job in the World

 

What happens if a global tourism marketing campaign dresses up as a job recruitment drive? A Global reality TV show gets under way.

Tourism Queensland launched its Best Job in the World competition in January hoping to generate fresh interest in Australia's sunshine state - a dream location, according to the locals, that is beautiful one day, and perfect the next. The internet, and its social networking sites, then delivered. Within the first 48 hours, they had received more than 7,500 online applications. Better still, more than 200,000 people logged on to the site in the first weekend alone, placing unexpected strains on server capacity.

 

It really captured the imagination of the worldNo wonder. In these "feel-bad" times, Tourism Queensland had opened up the ultimate feel-good job: the post of 'caretaker' at the blissful Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, with a six-month contract worth a handy Aus $150,000 (US $110,000). No wonder. In these "feel-bad" times, Tourism Queensland had opened up the ultimate feel-good job: the post of 'caretaker' at the blissful Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, with a six-month contract worth a handy Aus $150,000 (US $110,000).

Then there's the three-bedroom beach home you get to luxuriate in, which comes with a swimming pool and golf cart. The successful candidate must also be willing, in the words of the online advertisement, "to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle".

Nice work, if you can get it, and 34,000 applicants from over 200 countries thought they stood a chance. Now the field has been whittled down to 16 finalists, including a wild card entry chosen, in true reality television style, through an online poll.

They include a receptionist, some students, a teacher, a charity event manager, and an actress. And on 3rd May, they're all due to converge on Hamilton Island for the final. The biggest winner, though, is Tourism Queensland, which reckons that for US$1m, it generated US$70m of global publicity.

 

The campaign sparked lots of people's attention

"We did it on the smell of an oily rag," says Danielle Kootman of Tourism Queensland. "We pitched it after Christmas in the northern hemisphere when there is not much news around, and so amidst all the cold and gloom here came the dream job. "It really captured the imagination of the world."

It also helped that the organisers generated even more headlines by concocting a story that one applicant felt so passionately about the job that she tattooed an advert for the Great Barrier Reef on her arm. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, so it's no surprise that other have sought to replicate the success of this viral campaign. The 'NEXT Best Job in the world', a short-lived Canadian venture, has now been postponed. 

Russell Howcroft, an advertising executive who is a regular panellist on the hit Australian show, The Gruen Transfer, says Queensland's online campaign has been so successful because "it isn't an overclaim. "All the best advertising makes a legitimate claim, and for many people this really is the best job in the world. The proposition is supported."

The challenge now for tourism chiefs is to convert interest into visitation, a tough task for such a long-haul destination and at a time when there are fears within the Australian tourism industry that visitor numbers could drop by 250,000.

But Tourism Queensland says it has received heightened interested from airlines, which might look to establish new routes serving the sunshine state, and from global travel companies. Once again, the campaign has demonstrated the power of the internet, and of viral marketing.

President Barack Obama harnessed the power of the web to win the most powerful job in the world. Now Tourism Queensland has used similar techniques in what it claims has now become the most sought-after job in the world.

FINAL SHORT-LIST

Australia's PM admits he has a nerdy reputation

 

 AP: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd admits he has a reputation as a nerd — but he doesn't seem to mind.The buttoned-down, bespectacled leader whose lofty rhetoric and slight stiffness in public sometimes give him the aura of a schoolteacher was asked on radio Wednesday how he would spend a cash payout the government is handing out to most Australians.

"Some people have accused me of being a nerd from central casting," Rudd replied during a talk radio segment on the youth station Nova. "What I would probably do is go down to the bookshop and buy some books I've been wanting to buy for a while," he went on. "A bit of music, that sort of stuff."

Cash payouts of up to 900 Australian dollars ($640) are being rolled out starting this week as part of the government's plans to combat the global financial downturn. Callers to the radio show talked about buying new big-screen TVs or heading overseas on holiday. Rudd is not eligible for the handout because he earns too much salary, so the question was rhetorical.

Rudd, 51, a career bureaucrat and diplomat before he entered politics, is renowned for his proficiency in speaking Chinese. He has named the obscure German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a personal hero.

The Times of London last month described him as a "charisma-free zone" when listing characteristics of leaders attending the G-20 summit. In 2007, he was briefly an international YouTube sensation when a six-year-old video was posted of him absent-mindedly probing his left ear with a finger, which he then popped into his mouth.

Not all of Rudd's notoriety is geeky, however. He apologized two years ago for a boozy night he spent at a Manhattan strip club in 2003 — saying it was only second time in his life that he was drunk and it wouldn't happen again.

He made another public apology last week for an angry outburst this year about not getting the meal he wanted during an official flight that reportedly made an air force stewardess cry. The incident reinforced rumors Rudd has a sharp temper in private. Australians don't seem to mind Rudd's temper or his apparent dorkiness, with opinion polls consistently showing he is just about the most popular prime minister the country has ever had.

Shark attacks Sydney surfer

A surfer has been attacked by a shark at a northern Sydney beach - the 3rd attack in 3 weeks.

The beach was closed after the attack

The teenager was in a stable condition after suffering severe lacerations to his leg when surfing with his father at Avalon. Experts believe cleaner waters around Sydney plus a rise in fish stocks due to a ban on commercial fishing have attracted more sharks to the area.

In one recent case, a diver lost limbs in a shark attack. The 15-year-old boy suffered severe cuts, particularly to the upper thigh, and was airlifted to hospital, where his condition has been described as stable. Nobody has been killed in the attacks, but a naval diver lost an arm and a leg after being attacked in the city's harbour, close to the Opera House.

And a surfer almost lost a hand when he was savaged at Bondi. It was the 1st attack at Australia's iconic beach in 80 years.

People have been warned not to swim alone at dawn or dusk, but researchers have also pointed out that more people die from bee stings and lightning strikes than shark attacks.

BBC NEWS, SEE ALSO Sharks seen near Sydney beaches 05 Jan 09
TOP ASIA-PACIFIC STORIES 
Australia race film pulled amid clashes
Asean group seeks economic action

Australian Slang

Here is some Australian Slang:
 

Ace! : Excellent! Very good! 
Aerial pingpong : Australian Rules football 
Amber fluid : beer 
Ambo : ambulance, ambulance driver
Ankle biter : small child 
Apples, she'll be : It'll be all right 
Arvo : afternoon 
Aussie (pron. Ozzie) : Australian
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand 
Avos : avocados 
B & S : Bachelors' and Spinsters' Ball - a very enjoyable party usually held in rural areas 
Back of Bourke : a very long way away 
Bail (somebody) up : to corner somebody physically 
Bail out : depart, usually angrily 
Banana bender : a person from Queensland 
Barbie : barbecue (noun) 
Barrack : to cheer on (football team etc.) 
Bastard : term of endearment 
Bathers : swimming costume
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living 
Beaut, beauty : great, fantastic 
Big-note oneself : brag, boast 
Bikkie : biscuit (also "it cost big bikkies" - it was expensive)
Billabong : an ox-bow river or watering hole 
Billy : teapot. Container for boiling water.
Bingle : motor vehicle accident
Bities : biting insects 
Bitzer : mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that) 
Bizzo : business ("mind your own bizzo") 
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere 
Bloke : man, guy 
Bloody : very (bloody hard yakka) 
Bloody oath! : that's certainly true 
Blow in the bag : have a breathalyser test 
Blowie : blow fly 
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody who always relies on other people to do things or lend him things
Blue : fight ("he was having a blue with his wife") 
Blue, make a : make a mistake 
Bluey : pack, equipment, traffic ticket, redhead 
Bluey : excellent working blue cattle dog (named after its subtle markings). Everyone's favourite all-Aussie dog. 
Bluey : heavy wool or felt jacket worn by mining and construction workers.
Bluey : bluebottle jellyfish
Bodgy : of inferior quality 
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm 
Bog standard : basic, unadorned, without accessories (a bog standard car, telephone etc.)
Bogan : person who takes little pride in his appearance, spends his days slacking and drinking beer
JMR: like Peter Murray!
Bogged : Stuck in mud, deep sand (a vehicle). 
Bondi cigar : see "brown-eyed mullet" 
Bonzer : great, ripper 
Boogie board : a hybrid, half-sized surf board 
Boomer : a large male kangaroo 
Booze bus : police vehicle used for catching drunk drivers 
Boozer : a pub 
Bored shitless : very bored 
Bottle shop : liquor shop 
Bottle-o : liquor shop (originally a man with hessian bags going around picking up beer bottles in the 50's and 60's)
Bottler : something excellent 
Bottling, his blood's worth : he's an excellent, helpful bloke. 
Bounce : a bully 
Bourke Street, he doesn't know Christmas from : he's a bit slow in the head. (Bourke St is a brightly lit Melbourne street) 
Bowl of rice, not my : not my cup of tea; I don't like it
Brass razoo, he hasn't got a : he's very poor 
Brekkie : breakfast 
Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke 
Brickie : bricklayer 
Brisvegas : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland 
Brizzie : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland 
Brumby : a wild horse 
Buck's night : stag party, male gathering the night before the wedding 
Buckley's, Buckley's chance : no chance ("New Zealand stands Buckley's of beating Australia at football") 
Budgie smugglers : men's bathing costume
Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also roo bar) 
Bundy : short for Bundaberg, Queensland, and the brand of rum that's made there 
Bunyip : mythical outback creature 
Bush : the hinterland, the Outback, anywhere that isn't in town 
Bush bash : long competitive running or motorcar race through the bush
Bush telly : campfire 
Bushie : someone who lives in the Bush.
Bushranger : highwayman, outlaw 
Butcher : small glass of beer in South Australia - From the theory that a butcher could take a quick break from his job, have a drink and be back at work
BYO : unlicensed restaurant where you have to Bring Your Own grog, also similar party or barbecue
Cab Sav : Cabernet Sauvignon (a variety of wine grape)
Cactus : dead, not functioning ("this bloody washing machine is cactus") 
Cane toad : a person from Queensland
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook") 
Cark it : to die, cease functioning 
Cat burying shit, as busy as a : busy 
Cat's piss, as mean as : mean, stingy, uncharitable 
Chewie : chewing gum 
Chokkie : chocolate 
Chook : a chicken 
Chrissie : Christmas 
Chuck a sickie : take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy .
Clayton's : fake, substitute 
Cleanskin : Bottle of wine without a label. Usually bought in bulk by companies who then add their own personalised label and use the wine as e.g. gifts to clients
Cleanskin : cattle that have not been branded, earmarked or castrated.
Click : kilometre - "it's 10 clicks away" 
Clucky : feeling broody or maternal 
Coathanger : Sydney Harbour bridge
Cobber : friend 
Cockie : farmer (Farmers were called cockies in the early days of European settlement because, like the birds of the same name, they made their homes on the edges of permanent waterholes)
Cockie : cockatoo or cockroach
Cockroach : a person from New South Wales 
Coldie : a beer 
Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident 
Compo : Workers' Compensation pay 
Conch (adj. conchy) : a conscientious person who would rather work or study than go out and enjoy him/herself.
Cooee, not within : figuratively a long way away, far off - England weren't within cooee of beating Australia at cricket 
Cooee, within : nearby - I was within cooee of landing a big fish when the line broke. He lives within cooee of Sydney.
Cook (noun) : One's wife 
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Corroboree : an aboriginal dance festival 
Counter lunch/Countery : pub lunch 
Cozzie : swimming costume 
Crack onto (someone) : to hit on someone, pursue someone romantically
Cranky : in a bad mood, angry 
Cream (verb) : defeat by a large margin 
Crook : sick, or badly made 
Crow eater : a person from South Australia 
Cubby house : Small, usually timber, house in the garden used as a children's plaything.
Cut lunch : sandwiches 
Cut lunch commando : army reservist
Cut snake, mad as a : very angry 
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof 
Daks : trousers 
Damper : bread made from flour and water 
Date : arse[hole] ("get off your fat date") 
Dead dingo's donger, as dry as a : dry 
Dead horse : Tomato sauce
Deadset : true, the truth 
Dero : tramp, hobo, homeless person (from "derelict") 
Dickhead : see "whacker"
Digger : a soldier 
Dill : an idiot 
Dingo's breakfast : a yawn, a leak and a good look round (i.e. no breakfast) 
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?") 
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine 
Dipstick : a loser, idiot 
Divvy van : Police vehicle used for transporting criminals. Named after the protective 'division' between the driver and the villains.
Dob (somebody) in : inform on somebody. Hence dobber, a tell-tale 
Docket : a bill, receipt 
Doco : documentary 
Dog : unattractive woman 
Dog's balls, stands out like : obvious 
Dog's eye : meat pie
Dole bludger : somebody on social assistance when unjustified 
Down Under : Australia and New Zealand 
Drink with the flies : to drink alone 
Drongo : a dope, stupid person 
Dropkick : see 'dipstick'
Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give you the drum") 
Duchess : sideboard 
Duffer, cattle : rustler 
Dummy, spit the : get very upset at something 
Dunny : outside lavatory 
Dunny budgie : blowfly 
Dunny rat, cunning as a : very cunning 
Durry : tobacco, cigarette
Dux : top of the class (n.); to be top of the class (v.) - "She duxed four of her subjects".

Earbashing : nagging, non-stop chatter 
Ekka : the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc. 
Exy : expensive 
Face, off one's : drunk ("He was off his face by 9pm") 
Fair dinkum : true, genuine 
Fair go : a chance ("give a bloke a fair go") 
Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief (see also "sav") 
Fairy floss : candy floss, cotton candy 
Feral : V8 ute (q.v.) sporting large heavy bullbar, numerous aerials, large truck mudflaps and stickers almost all over the rear window and tailgate. Sometimes seen with a Mack emblem on the bonnet and always with large (multiple) driving lights
Feral (n.) : a hippie
Figjam : "F*ck I'm good; just ask me". Nickname for people who have a high opinion of themselves.
Fisho : fishmonger 
Flake : shark's flesh (sold in fish & chips shops) 
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, busy
Flick : to give something or somebody the flick is to get rid of it or him/her 
Flick it on : to sell something, usually for a quick profit, soon after buying it. 
Fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway. 
Footy : Australian Rules football 
Fossick : search, rummage ("fossicking through the kitchen drawers") 
Fossick : to prospect, e.g. for gold
Fossicker : prospector, e.g. for gold
Fremantle Doctor : the cooling afternoon breeze that arrives in Perth from the direction of Freeo
Freo : Fremantle in Western Australia
Frog in a sock, as cross as a : sounding angry - a person or your hard drive! 
Fruit loop : fool 
Full : drunk 
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour
G'Day : hello! 
Gabba : Wooloongabba - the Brisbane cricket ground
GAFA (pron. gaffa) : the big nothingness of the Australian Outback. Great Australian F**k All.
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes. 
Garbo, garbologist : municipal garbage collector 
Give it a burl : try it, have a go 
Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably ("The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a gobful") 
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Going off : used of a night spot or party that is a lot of fun - "the place was really going off" 
Good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth 
Good onya : good for you, well done 
Goog, as full as a : drunk. "Goog" is a variation of the northern English slangword "goggie" meaning an egg. 
Greenie : environmentalist 
Grinning like a shot fox : very happy, smugly satisfied 
Grog : liquor, beer ("bring your own grog, you bludger") 
Grouse (adj.) : great, terrific, very good 
Grundies : undies, underwear (from Reg Grundy, a television person) 
Gutful of piss : drunk, "he's got a gutful of piss"
Handle : beer glass with a handle 
Harold Holt, to do the : To bolt. (Also "to do the Harold")
Heaps : a lot, e.g. "thanks heaps", "(s)he earned heaps of money" etc. 
Holy dooley! : an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar
Hoon : hooligan 
Hooroo : goodbye 
Hotel : often just a pub 
Hottie : hot water bottle
Icy pole, ice block : popsicle, lollypop 
Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property) 
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand 
Joey : baby kangaroo 
Journo : journalist 
Jug : electric kettle
Jumbuck : sheep
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock") 
Kelpie : Australian sheepdog originally bred from Scottish collie 
Kero : kerosene 
Kindie : kindergarten 
Knock : to criticise 
Knock back : refusal (noun), refuse (transitive verb) 
Knocker : somebody who criticises
Lair : a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behaviour, to dress up in flashy clothes, to renovate or dress up something in bad taste 
Lair it up : to behave in a brash and vulgar manner 
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster 
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you") 
Lippy : lipstick 
Liquid laugh : vomit 
Lizard drinking, flat out like a : flat out, busy 
Lob, lob in : drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed") 
Lollies : sweets, candy 
London to a brick : absolute certainty ("it's London to a brick that taxes won't go down") 
Long paddock : the side of the road where livestock is grazed during droughts
Longneck : 750ml bottle of beer in South Australia
Lucky Country, The : Australia, where else? 
Lunch, who opened their? : OK, who farted? 
Lurk : illegal or underhanded racket 
Maccas (pron. "mackers") : McDonald's (the hamburger place) 
Mallee bull, as fit as a : very fit and strong. The Mallee is very arid beef country in Victoria/South Australia. 
Manchester : Household linen, eg sheets etc.
Mappa Tassie : map of Tasmania - a woman's pubic area 
Mate : buddy, friend 
Mate's rate, mate's discount : cheaper than usual for a "friend" 
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Metho : methylated spirits 
Mexican : a person from south of the Queensland or New South Wales border 
Mickey Mouse : excellent, very good. Beware though - in some parts of Australia it means inconsequential, frivolous or not very good! 
Middy : 285 ml beer glass in New South Wales 
Milk bar : corner shop that sells takeaway food 
Milko : milkman 
Mob : group of people, not necessarily troublesome 
Mob : family or herd (?) of kangaroos 
Mongrel : despicable person 
Moolah : money
Mozzie : mosquito 
Muddy : mud crab (a great delicacy) 
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person 
Mull : grass (the kind you smoke) 
Muster : round up sheep or cattle 
Mystery bag : a sausage
Nasho : National Service (compulsory military service) 
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia 
Nipper : young surf lifesaver 
No drama : same as 'no worries'
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it) 
No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well 
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually 
Nuddy, in the : naked 
Nun's nasty, as dry as a : dry 
Nut out : hammer out or work out (an agreement, say)
O.S. : overseas ("he's gone O.S.") 
Ocker : an unsophisticated person 
Offsider : an assistant, helper 
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies" 
Op shop : opportunity shop, thrift store, place where second hand goods are sold.
Outback : interior of Australia 
Oz : Australia! 
Paddock : see 'long paddock'
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on" 
Pav : Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert 
Perve (noun & verb) : looking lustfully at the opposite sex 
Piece of piss : easy task 
Pig's arse! : I don't agree with you 
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early 
Pink slip, get the : get the sack (from the colour of the termination form)
Pint : large glass of beer (esp. in South Australia)
Piss : beer. Hence "hit the piss", "sink some piss" 
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery! 
Plonk : cheap wine 
Pokies : poker machines, fruit machines, gambling slot machines 
Polly : politician 
Pom, pommy, pommie : an Englishman • See the complaint about "Pom" etc. 
Pommy bastard : an Englishman (see also 'bastard') 
Pommy shower : using deodorant instead of taking a shower 
Pommy's towel, as dry as a : very dry - based on the canard that Poms bathe about once a month 
Porky : Lie, untruth (pork pie = lie)
Port : suitcase (portmanteau) 
Postie : postman, mailman 
Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland and Victoria 
Pozzy : position - get a good pozzy at the football stadium 
Prezzy : present, gift 
Quid, make a : earn a living - "are you making a quid?" 
Quid, not the full : of low IQ. [Historical note: 'quid' is slang for a pound. £1 became $2 when Australia converted to decimal currency] 
Rack off : push off! get lost! get out of here! also "rack off hairy legs!". 
Rage : party 
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am" 
Rapt : pleased, delighted 
Ratbag : mild insult 
Raw prawn, to come the : to bullshit, to be generally disagreeable 
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely! 
Reffo : refugee 
Rego : vehicle registration 
Rellie or relo : family relative 
Ridgy-didge : original, genuine 
Right, she : it'll be all right
Right, that'd be : Accepting bad news as inevitable. ("I went fishing but caught nothing." "Yeah, that'd be right.")
Rip snorter : great, fantastic - "it was a rip snorter of a party" 
Ripper : great, fantastic - "it was a ripper party" 
Ripper, you little! : Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news
Road train : big truck with many trailers 
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm" 
Rollie : a cigarette that you roll yourself 
Roo : kangaroo 
Roo bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also bull bar)
Root (verb and noun) : synonym for f*ck in nearly all its senses: "I feel rooted"; "this washing machine is rooted"; "(s)he's a good root". A very useful word in fairly polite company. 
Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
Ropeable : very angry 
Rort (verb or noun) : Cheating, fiddling, defrauding (expenses, the system etc.). Usually used of politicians 
Rotten : drunk - "I went out last night and got rotten" 
Rubbish (verb) : to criticize 
Salute, Aussie : brushing flies away 
Salvos, the : Salvation Army, bless them 
Sandgroper : a person from Western Australia 
Sanger : a sandwich 
Sav : saveloy (see also "fair suck of the sav!") 
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia 
Scratchy : instant lottery ticket 
Screamer : party lover; "two pot screamer" - somebody who gets drunk on very little alcohol 
Seppo : an American 
Servo : petrol station 
Shag on a rock, stands out like a : very obvious
Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing 
She'll be right : it'll turn out okay 
Sheepshagger : A New Zealander
Sheila : a woman 
Shit house (adj.) : of poor quality, unenjoyable ("this car is shit house", "the movie was shit house")
Shit house (noun) : toilet, lavatory
Shonky : dubious, underhanded. E.g. a shonky practice, shonky business etc. 
Shoot through : to leave 
Shout : turn to buy - a round of drinks usually ("it's your shout") 
Show pony : someone who tries hard, by his dress or behaviour, to impress those around him.
Sickie : day off sick from work (chuck a sickie = take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy!) 
Skite : boast, brag 
Skull/Skol (a beer) : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath
Slab : a carton of 24 bottles or cans of beer 
Sleepout : house verandah converted to a bedroom 
Smoko : smoke or coffee break 
Snag : a sausage 
Sook : person or animal who is soft, tame, inoffensive. Hence sooky (adj.) 
Spag bol : spaghetti bolognese 
Spewin' : very angry 
Spiffy, pretty spiffy : great, excellent
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something 
Spruiker : man who stands outside a nightclub or restaurant trying to persuade people to enter
Sprung : caught doing something wrong 
Spunk : a good looking person (of either sex) 
Squizz (noun) : look - "take a squizz at this" 
Standover man : a large man, usually gang-related, who threatens people with physical violence in order to have his wishes carried out.
Station : a big farm/grazing property 
Stickybeak : nosy person 
Stoked : very pleased
Stonkered : beaten, defeated, cornered, perplexed
Strewth : exclamation, mild oath ("Strewth, that Chris is a bonzer bloke") 
Strides : trousers 
Strine : Australian slang and pronunciation 
Stubby : a 375ml. beer bottle 
Stubby holder : polystyrene insulated holder for a stubby 
Stuffed, I feel : I'm tired 
Stuffed, I'll be : expression of surprise 
Sunbake : sunbathe 
Sunnies : sunglasses 
Surfies : people who go surfing - usually more often than they go to work! 
Swag : rolled up bedding etc. carried by a swagman 
Swaggie : swagman 
Swagman : tramp, hobo 
Tall poppies : successful people 
Tall poppy syndrome : the tendency to criticize successful people 
Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer
Taswegian : derogatory term for a person from Tasmania 
Technicolor yawn : vomit 
Tee-up : to set up (an appointment) 
Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit 
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals 
Throw-down : small bottle of beer which you can throw down quickly.
Tickets, to have on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself 
Tinny : can of beer 
Tinny : small aluminium boat
Tinny, tin-arsed : lucky
Togs : swim suit 
Too right! : definitely! 
Top End : far north of Australia 
Trackie daks/dacks : tracksuit pants
Trackies : track suit 
Troppo, gone : to have escaped to a state of tropical madness; to have lost the veneer of civilisation after spending too long in the tropics.
Trough lolly : the solid piece of perfumed disinfectant in a men's urinal 
Truckie : truck driver 
True blue : patriotic 
Tucker : food 
Tucker-bag : food bag 
Turps : turpentine, alcoholic drink 
Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge 
Two up : gambling game played by spinning two coins simultaneously 
Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.
Ugh : ugly. hence Ugg boots
Uni : university 
Unit : flat, apartment 
Up oneself : have a high opinion of oneself - "he's really up himself" 
Up somebody, get : to rebuke somebody - "the boss got up me for being late" 
Useful as an ashtray on a motorbike / tits on a bull : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing - "he, she or it is about as useful as tits on a bull" etc. etc. 
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck 
Vedgies : vegetables 
Vee dub : Volkswagen 
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable) 
Vejjo : vegetarian 
Vinnie's : St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels)
WACA (pron. whacker) : Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground
Waggin' school : playing truant 
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time 
Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found 
Weekend warrior : army reservist
Whacker, whacka : Idiot; somebody who talks drivel; somebody with whom you have little patience; a dickhead
Whinge : complain 
White pointers : topless (female) sunbathers 
Whiteant (verb) : to criticise something to deter somebody from buying it. A car dealer might whiteant another dealer's cars or a real estate salesman might whiteant another agent's property 
Wobbly : excitable behaviour ("I complained about the food and the waiter threw a wobbly") 
Wobbly boot on, he's got the : drunk
Wog : flu or trivial illness 
Wog : person of Mediterranean origin. A milder insult than the same word in the UK and perhaps elsewhere. 
Wombat : somebody who eats, roots and leaves (see also root) 
Woop Woop : invented name for any small unimportant town - "he lives in Woop Woop" 
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport 
Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland 
Yabber : talk (a lot) 
Yabby : inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia (Cherax destructor)
Yakka : work (noun) 
Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights") 
Yobbo : an uncouth person 
Zack : sixpence (5 cents) - "it isn't worth a zack", "he hasn't got a zack"

The Lucky Country

I watched a French documentary on the Lucky Country that made me somewhat nostalgic.
Some of the key facts were that 90% of the 20M Aussies live under 50kms from the sea; 93% of the population lives indeed in the cities and is made up of 92% Caucasians, 7% Asians and 1 % aboriginals.

The Aussies are laid-back but work quite hard. There’s a strong sense of mateship, about 5% unemployment, 52,000 Frenchies, 8 out of the 10 most dangerous snakes in the world! … Some can’t-miss Sydney experiences:

 Hit the world-famous Sydney Harbour: Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

 Explore the historic Sydney Rocks Markets: Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hanging and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

 Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

 Walk from Bondi to Coogee: Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above.  See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

 Glebe is the bookwormish and often overlooked sister amongst Sydney’s glamorous inner-city suburbs. Sittings between two universities, this pretty peninsula is home to a vibrant community of students, academics, activists and new-agers. You’ll hear them discussing everything from chakras to Chavez in the cheap restaurants, cafes, bookstores, laundromats, health food shops and lively pubs. With the Saturday markets, bargain hunters and bohemians flock for funky vintage clothes, massages and tempeh burgers. Trawl the second hand goods, records, furniture, arts, crafts, jewellery and bric-a-brac while listening to the soothing sounds of bongos and wind chimes. 

Lined with grand Victorian terraces, federation houses and modest workers' cottages, the leafy streets are great for walking. Stroll along Glebe Point Road (GPR to the locals), stopping to browse boutiques and esoteric shops or look intellectual with a second-hand book. Drink coffee, eat cake, play cards and talk life and philosophy in cosy cafes. Restore your zen with massage, acupuncture or other alternative therapies. Then unleash your inner child in Bicentennial Park, overlooking Blackwattle Bay. This big green space comes complete with playing fields and barbecue facilities. Glebe is a global village fro eating. Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean and Nepalese are just some of the flavours of the many cheap ethnic eateries. You’ll also find lots of upmarket restaurants winning quiet rave reviews. After dark, head to a funky cocktail bar, see greyhounds race at the local track or listen to an independent rock band at one of the intimate wine bars or pumping and unpretentious pubs. 

 Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington: Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

Tourism Australia - Sydney

Australian fauna

I was telling Lionel about possums jumping in branches near our apartment in Sydney. Here are some striking animals endemic to Australia: Wombat, Koala, Cockatoo, Possum, Tasmanian Devil …

Australia suffering 'man drought'

Australia is hit by man shortages

An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought".

BBC: The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia. The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas.

Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males. That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work.

It has caused a gender imbalance that is having far-reaching implications. Major cities in Australia now have concentrated groups of unattached women, along with dwindling numbers of the opposite sex.

Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark. "If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group. "Here is an example of one country that has drawn out a specific age demographic out of Australia which has contributed to the 'man drought'."

But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different. Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males. In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men. Demographers have compiled a so-called "Love Map" that shows how the various clusters of unattached men and women are distributed across the Australian continent.

The Newport Arms in Sydney's north shore

 Had some drinks at the Newport Arms, which offers sprawling views over Pittwater.

The Newport Arms in Newport on Sydney's northern beaches is a local institution.

It's also an official NSW Tourism 'must-see'. Since it was built in 1880 the same family have owned and run it, and with recent renovations the venue has really taken off.

The largest beer garden in Australia offers impressive views of Pittwater over to Bayview, Church Point, Scotland Island and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The Arms faces scenic Pittwater, just a stone's throw from Palm Beach.

Worth the drive for a summer afternoon as well as the Woolwich Pier Hotel & the Manly Wharf Hotel.

Visit Sydney

 

• Sydney Water Taxis
• Sydney Harbour Seaplanes 
• The Great Outdoors NSW
• Brooklyn - NSW
• Hawkesbury Waterways
• Directory of the Hawkesbury Region
• Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises
• Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats
• Adrenalin Adventure Experiences
• Greenwich B&B Homestay Accommodation
• Hunter Tourism

Where we live in Sydney's North Shore

The Shore Arpartments in Atarmon. Nearby is Lane Cove with nice outdoor restaurants & shops...