Surprising Australia!

[Limbo]

I hereby gratulate all Australians with their fantastic results in Greece. Unbelievable that a small country like Australia (20 million people?) manages to end in the top five.

I have never been in Australia. I know Australia and its population only from the samples I met in Thailand. I never associated these big bellied beer drinkers with sports.

And beer-drinking is not an olympic discipline.

What is the origine of the Australian beer-belly? Do Australians in Australia not have beer-bellies? Is it only a certain generation which cultivated the beer-belly as a kind of beauty-ideal?

I am puzzled.

But you did a great job in Greece. You put Australia on the map. Gratulations!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I hereby gratulate all Australians with their fantastic results in Greece. Unbelievable that a small country like Australia (20 million people?) manages to end in the top five.

I have never been in Australia. I know Australia and its population only from the samples I met in Thailand. I never associated these big bellied beer drinkers with sports.

And beer-drinking is not an olympic discipline.

What is the origine of the Australian beer-belly? Do Australians in Australia not have beer-bellies? Is it only a certain generation which cultivated the beer-belly as a kind of beauty-ideal?

I am puzzled.

But you did a great job in Greece. You put Australia on the map. Gratulations!

Hey Limbo ... we Ozzie's came fourth in the Olympics. If beer swilling becomes a future Olympic event, we'll be closer to coming first.

[Pink Mist]

I've been training for years just in case

[RooBoy]

But you did a great job in Greece. You put Australia on the map. Gratulations!

I thought we were already on the map??

I hardly think beer bellies are confined to Aussies, those cute balding german men with their beer bellies walking down pattaya beach hand in hand with their "sons" are a sight to behold!

Our population is becoming fatter however, if we are not careful we will end up like the US!

[simey]

Oh yes, love being compared to a seppo.

Just like with the wildlife oz is a nation of extremes. When people drink beer they really drink beer (I beleive the prime minister once held the yard of ale drinking record). When then swim they evolve (like thorpey) with big feet and little regard for breathing. And when it comes to playing hide the sausage, well.......

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Oh yes, love being compared to a seppo.

Just like with the wildlife oz is a nation of extremes. When people drink beer they really drink beer (I beleive the prime minister once held the yard of ale drinking record). When then swim they evolve (like thorpey) with big feet and little regard for breathing. And when it comes to playing hide the sausage, well.......

Well a few PM's back that was. One Robert James Lee Hawke at Oxford University.

[jackr]

Oh yes, love being compared to a seppo.

Just like with the wildlife oz is a nation of extremes. When people drink beer they really drink beer (I beleive the prime minister once held the yard of ale drinking record). When then swim they evolve (like thorpey) with big feet and little regard for breathing. And when it comes to playing hide the sausage, well.......

Is there any real beer in Oz? I thought you lot were all 3% alcohol content 4ex Lager swillers.

[Sphere]

Well a few PM's back that was. One Robert James Lee Hawke at Oxford University.

Then he was asked if he even remembered his name - "Barley" he answered.

[simey]

OK, 5 points each. The folow up question as the decider, first to reply wins. The full name of the pm who drowned and has a swimming pool named after him was...

[NedKelly]

Jackr-Is there any real beer in Oz? I thought you lot were all 3% alcohol content 4ex Lager swillers

Careful sunshine !

[Rooo]

Harold holt.

[jackr]

Jackr-Is there any real beer in Oz? I thought you lot were all 3% alcohol content 4ex Lager swillers

Careful sunshine !

I'm old enough to be your dad, son!

[simey]

Well done roo, 5 points to you also. It's a tie between dr, roo and sphere!

[Tornado]

jackr, where are you from?

We have many beers over 4 %, but they are usually drunk by our Olympians

Many great brewers in Aus. We export the crap, that is the beer your probably referring to.

[350torana]

Is it true there is a swimming pool named after Harold Holt is Victoria, or just an old wives tale?

Anyways, we have a great reputation for drinking beer . Sure Hawkey, the America's Cup thing and Fosters play a big part. I think we would be up there in the medals for beer drinking but tough competetion from the German's , Brits and maybe even Thais . Probably get the gold for having a bellyfull of piss and saying " what are u looking at ?" before starting a brawl .

Seroiusly though, i think the main reason we are soo succesful in sport is sporting programs , from spotting future champs in their early years to spending alot of money at the AIS training them.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Well done roo, 5 points to you also. It's a tie between dr, roo and sphere!

and it is nearly 40 years since old Harold went missing. One of the urban myths of the time suggested that he was taken to the Peoples Republic of China by a Chinese submarine.

[RDN]

jackr, where are you from?

We have many beers over 4 %, but they are usually drunk by our Olympians 

Many great brewers in Aus. We export the crap, that is the beer your probably referring to.

Have you ever tried Boags lager? Brewed in Hobart, Tasmania I think. I used to drink it in the UK for years until the sole importer stopped importing it. I used to buy 3 or 4 slabs at a time, but obviously not enough

[Limbo]

I would like to visit Australia. It fascinates me. A gigantic country with a beautifull nature and with twenty million people only. And I heard that they are very friendly and live in a worriless way.

I looked at Australian television programs at the home of an Australian friend.

Informative and interesting, hardly violence, no nonsens.

I think it is peaceful like northern Europe. No real poverty, thus not much crime and violence, thus save and pleasant.

For me, I call this a super-country, no, yes, a super-power, based on mental power and not on the possession of mass dectruction weapons like 'the' super-power at the other side of the ocean.

A 'small' country can be great in things where an enormeous country even can not dream about.

[RooBoy]

Yes there is a pool named after holt, its in Glen Iris in Melbourne.

[RDN]

I would like to visit Australia. It fascinates me. A gigantic country with a beautifull nature and with twenty million people only. And I heard that they are very friendly and live in a worriless way.

I looked at Australian television programs at the home of an Australian friend.

Informative and interesting, hardly violence, no nonsens.

I think it is peaceful like northern Europe. No real poverty, thus not much crime and violence, thus save and pleasant.

For me, I call this a super-country, no, yes, a super-power, based on mental power and not on the possession of mass dectruction weapons like 'the' super-power at the other side of the ocean.

A 'small' country can be great in things where an enormeous country even can not dream about.

You will love Melbourne if you go there. Fantastic place! I love the river and restaurants, the way the roads are laid out in a grid, the (free) trams, the taxis (where did all those Greek taxi drivers come from?), and the water jets that squirt out of the ground near the casino by the river. Great to sit and watch the kids play and get soaked! And the (8 or 10?) giant monolithic gas burners outside the casino that shoot flames 50 feet into the air in a pattern every hour - brilliant. And the people do have a "isn't it great to live here" attitude about them.

On the down side is the "nasty northerly" wind in summer that can burn your skin off if you aren't careful!

[simey]

Most liveable city in the world, voted twice I think.

[350torana]

Boags, great brew, but brewed in Launceston (nth Tasmania ) Hobart is Cascade territory.

BTW, anyone else see the irony in naming a swiming pool after Harold Holt?

Persoanlly,i think he drowned or was taken by a white pointer

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Boags, great brew, but brewed in Launceston (nth Tasmania ) Hobart is Cascade territory.

BTW, anyone else see the irony in naming a swiming pool after Harold Holt?

Persoanlly,i think he drowned or was taken by a white pointer

It is one of those wonderful ironies for sure. The Harold Holt Diving and Snorkelling School would be too ( if there was one )

[Pink Mist]

Ah melbourne the place the croweaters go and play "spot the Aussie"

[RDN]

Ah melbourne the place the croweaters go and play "spot the Aussie"

What are you bronco? A Cornstalk, Sandgroper, Bananabender or Apple islander?

P.S. I have no idea whether I just insulted you or not - blame 'google'

[350torana]

Not sure which state " cornstalk " refers to... Iowa?

[RDN]

Not  sure  which state " cornstalk " refers  to... Iowa?

According to ABC:

http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s465115.htm

'Cornstalk' refers to people from New South Wales

'Sandgropers' from Western Australia,

'Croweaters' from South Australia,

'Bananabenders' from Queensland and

'Apple islander' from Tasmania.

Ain't 'google' great!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I never heard the term Cornstalk used as a regional description for the locals. One lives and learns.

[350torana]

I have never heard a general term for NSW folk. Only heard ' Cockroaches' from watching NSW- QLD state of origin rugby.

Like the good Dr said u live and learn

[Pink Mist]

I have never heard a general term for NSW folk. Only heard ' Cockroaches' from watching NSW- QLD state of origin rugby.

Like the good Dr said u live and learn

more recent terms have crept in for our east coast cousins.

"cane toads" = Queenslanders (self explanatory)

"cockroaches" = New South Welshmen ( cause they are)

"mexicans" = Victorians (south of the border)

"two heads" = Tasmanians (will let 350 explain that one)

sandgropers and croweaters remain unchanged.