What is the Australian National Identity? Who can decide what it is? Who istruly Australian? These questions have been asked throughout this countrys short life. Many have different views on what is what, but I believe that you cant really just saywell this is what an Australian is and thats that.
But there are definitely uniquequalities about Australians that are evident. The booklet entitled Being Australianhas many different representations on what is Australian, these are the images that. . .
During the colonial era, many of the true Australian qualities were shown. They showed, resourcefulness, independence, mateship, egalitarianism, and enduranceto name a few. . . Distinct Australian qualities(traits) were seen to be identifiable andreflected the democratic and egalitarian values and aspirations of the people.
There were other people with very strong views on what is Australian. By theterm Australian we mean not just those who have been merely born in Australia. Allwhite men who come to these shores- with a clean record- and who leave behind themthe memory of class distinctions and the religious differences of the old world; all menwho place the happiness, the prosperity, the advancement of their adopted countrybefore the interests of imperialism are Australian. Then there were other people like Henry Lawson who described the typicalAustralian as having, pessimism, callousness, atheism and stoic endurance. Butunfortunately, according to Fred Broomfields, Henry Lawson is not the seizer andhistorian of the typical Australian, simply because there is no such being. .
. But thesethings are common to all isolated people. Fred Broomfields, also wrote that there is the typical small town Australian. The climate breeds a desire for out-of-door exercise.
Men will transact business underverandahs, and make appointments at the corners of streets. The evening stroll will bean institution. . . The boys, brought up outside their homes.
. . learn to roam, and as theyconquer difficulties for themselves. . .
learn to care little for their parents. James Hogan stated that there is definitely three traits most evident in an 1 An inordinate love of field sports. 2 A Very decided disinclination to recognise the authority of parents 3 A grievous dislike to mental effortThere are many different views on what is Australian, but it is also so difficultto say, as there is an Australian of the coast, an Australian of the bush and anAustralian of the city; so which do you choose. But Australia has been put togetherwith many races and cultures and thats just how it is, but as W.K.Hancock said, theunity of Australia means nothing if it did not imply a united race.Bibliography:
