Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Sites | Writers | Advertise | My Orble | Login

What's Australia’s Greatest Cultural Export?

January 24th 2008 22:45
With Australia Day being celebrated tomorrow – thought it prudent to ask the question:

What has been Australia’s Greatest Cultural Export to the World?

From AC/DC to the Dame Edna Everidge, Olivia Newton John to Crocodile Dundee – the list is a virtual who’s who.

But don’t be hamstrung by genre!


Perhaps in your mind – the humble Pavlova or Lamington should grace the top of the list – or even the wine cask . . . the decision is entirely yours.

Was the Hills Hoist our greatest contribution to the rest of civilization – or is Neighbours cringeworthy bragging material?

Would love to hear your opinion . . . and Happy Australia Day!

124
Vote


   
Subscribe to this blog 


Just this blog This blog and DailyOrble (recommended)

   

   


Comments
17 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Michaelie

January 25th 2008 01:09
Not ugg boots and not Russell Crowe - even though he's not really ours anyway, everyone thinks he is.

Vegemite? The bionic ear? The cervical cancer vaccine?

Michaelie

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 02:00
Mich

Thought you may have cited 'Kylie'!

MNG

Comment by Ginger

January 25th 2008 02:49
Hey - Whats wrong with the good old meat pie?
The only problem is that no one offshore can make it like we do. And you need to be Aussie to be able to eat one in your hands without dripping everywhere.
Whats more - we want tomato sauce NOT ketchup.
Ginger

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 03:13
Hey Ginger

Not entirely sure we were the one to come up with the whole meat pie concept - but it's true - no one makes a Nazi Spy with Dead Horse like we do!

. . . now as for a pie floater - there's something uniquely Oz!

Cheers

MNG

Comment by KylieW

January 25th 2008 04:29
Hmmm....our greatest cultural export. That's a tough one. I think that Steve Irwin would surely have to be up there. Musically it would have to be AC/DC for me. Sadly our tv shows are so crap that Neighbours is probably our biggest contribution to global tv. A fact that is quite shameful!!!!


Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 05:17
Kylie

How soon we forget huh.

Steve - for all his cringeworthiness was iconically Oz for 250 million Americans.

I remember being in LA five or six years ago and switching on the box and seeing the Croc Hunter himself . . . took the kids to Disneyland . . . . returned in the afternoon only to find that Steve had been on all day - yes a bloody Steve Irwin festival of sorts.

Now as for Neighbours - ouch - have to agree with you there. Kylie and Jason probably wouldn't though.

Cheers

MNG

Comment by Vixter

January 25th 2008 10:16
For a VEHICLE of cultural export - you can't really go part neighbours...sadly.
I am in London and they love it here...and water rats - I forgot about that one!

I would LIKE to say it's vegemite...why, because i heart it so. But i am not the sole judge.
If you really want to see a popular item - it's Uggies - every second person's wearing them and I can't say I'm proud!

Comment by Mrs M

January 25th 2008 13:29
The notion that we're a fair and accepting fun loving kind of country...I hope.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Comment by Miswanderlust

January 25th 2008 17:57
MNG
I say INXS, ACDC, Split Enz, and gulp...... Little River Band (nice blokes.... as you say....spent time with them in the 70s)
Mis
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 19:21
Hey Vixter

Uggies, Vegemite and Neighbours.

When historians open that time capsule in eons to come - I'll stand and be proud!

Cheers and hope life in London continues to find you well.

Happy Australia day mate.

MNG

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 19:22
Mrs M

Great call.

MNG

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 25th 2008 19:28
G'day Cobber (colloquial - and sometimes cringworthy slang there)

Hate to burst your bubble - but as much as we'd like to claim Split Enz as our own - we can't in good conscious do it. (Aussies love claiming our New Zealand brothers as our own - ie: Russell Crowe)

As for the others - sure.

LRB were probably the first band to crack it on a regular basis in the US though Air Supply would probably have something to say about that claim to fame - as would the Bee Gees - who once again we claim as our own - despite their early British upbringing.

Anyway - thanks for the sentiments mate!

Avagoodweekend!

MNG

Comment by JohnDoe

January 26th 2008 01:18
Hi MNG,

Cultural export hey? So that means things like inventing Radar, Rocket engine technology and any number of other gems we developed and then sold to the U.S don't count, right?

Weren't we responsible for the Ute too?

Lets see then I would have to go with Errol Flynn (Robin Hood, Captain Blood) as our greatest exported talent. Though Diane Cilento (The Wicker Man, Tom Jones) deserve some honours too.

Director Peter Weir (Witness, Truman Show, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli) has been an influential force worth noting for quality.

Musically AC/DC definitely warrants respect. So do the Easy Beats and Peter Allen. Johnny O Keefe was a pivotal pioneer of Rock N Roll and so his place may be at #1 for music.

Fun post. Good work MNG.






Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 26th 2008 03:56
JD

Your depth and scope never ceases to amaze.

Always a pleasure

MNG

Comment by Mountain Fog

January 26th 2008 07:32
hmmm..the Aussie cattle dog, dingoes, lamingtons, pink zinc cream, rubber thongs...(footwear!), slouch hat, Victor lawn mower, domestic freezer (I think...first to make ice cubes in home...?), and of course, the koala, and the top ten most poisonous snakes, spiders and so on!!

cheers...

happy Ozzie Slosh Dai MNG!

fog

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

January 26th 2008 09:18
Fog

Bewdy bonza mate.

MNG


Comment by Anonymous

February 27th 2008 16:39
HEYYYYY GIRLLL HEYYYYYthis is lammeeeee

Add A Comment

To create a fully formatted comment please click here.


CLICK HERE TO LOGIN | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Name or Orble Tag
Home Page (optional)
Comments
Bold Italic Underline Strikethrough Separator Left Center Right Separator Quote Insert Link Insert Email
Notify me of replies
Notify extra people about this comment
Is this a private comment?
List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this comment


One per line max of 30

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this private comment thread. Only the people in this list will be able to see or reply to your comment.


One per line max of 30

Your Name
(for the email going out to the above list, it can be different to your Orble Tag)
Your Email Address
(optional)
(required for reply notification)
Submit
More Posts
9 Posts
12 Posts
11 Posts
282 Posts dating from June 2007
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:
0

Mr Nice Guy's Blogs

I have no other blogs :(
Moderated by Mr Nice Guy
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]