#aussie aboriginal stories

[zahri-melitor]

Reading Digger Harkness as an Aussie: why he’s specifically written to wind me up, the undercurrents of many of his appearances, and why he’s voting No in the Voice referendum.

(Okay if you know ANYTHING about Digger and about the Voice you already knew that, but making this current-relevant!)

George “Digger” Harkness is Captain Boomerang. He’s traditionally written by DC to be specifically, deliberately annoying and disliked. Due to this he’s simultaneously quite cleverly written while also being the laziest character stereotype imaginable.

One of the things that drives me up the wall every time I read him in a book is that due to a clash of a few things in his character design, the subtext he’s evolved over time is remarkably complex, but also geared to make me despise him. Also I can’t tell how much of it is deliberate on the writer’s part.

The first thing you need to understand is that Harkness is very specifically putting on a level of Australianness for his audience (the usually American characters around him). The fascinating thing in this is that, unusually for this trope, his writers are often aware he’s doing this. The common term for this is ‘ocker’. You can notice this in the language he uses: it’s specifically peppered with ‘Australian’ words and phrases.

Now this is a pretty common thing for writers to do to demonstrate a character is Australian. It sounds like someone trying to write Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin. However, to my ear (and years of putting up with this), the way it’s done for Digger is…off. It’s not the standard terrible way it’s used in American media, but it’s equally not written naturally for how an Australian who natively speaks ocker/broad would use it. Digger’s playing it up, and he’s playing it up badly. (the closest comparison I can make than an Australian might understand is he sounds more like Russell Coight than Steve Irwin, with all that implies) He wants people to think he’s an Australian stereotype.

Heck, let’s break down his name for a demonstration of this.

Captain Boomerang: this is a very, very, loaded name. Digger’s specifically racist, and he’s racist in a very White Australia Policy sort of way. The writers are aware he’s racist. He uses a boomerang as a symbol as he’s Australian (surface level) but they’re also specifically drawn as white a lot of the time, both in his costume and in the weapons themselves. They’re not plain wood or decorated with traditional art. They’re white. He has a history of making boomerangs and promoting them in Australia for sale, as a white guy, which is uhhhh Not Great. He’s assumed a traditional piece of Australian Aboriginal weaponry and culture as his own, and he’s painted it white. He’s asserting that it’s his culture now and has stripped it of its traditional meaning. (Also his boomerangs often don’t come back, and have sharpened edges and are used wrongly). He doesn’t like Black People ™ but also uses a weapon specifically associated with an oppressed minority in his place of origin. The white supremacy attitude is very much coded in.

“Digger” as a nickname: oh the way this clashes and interacts with the fact he uses ‘Captain’ as a title! Digger as a term is a general nickname for Australian Army soldiers. It comes from the Gallipoli landings and the trenches of World War I. By using it as his nickname, Harkness is evoking a whole HOST of imagery and specifically nationalist cultural imagery surrounding Gallipoli as a ‘birthplace’ of Australian identity, something that’s been weaponised particularly by the Australian political right for the past 30 years as a national symbol. In the stories that a country tells itself about who they are, Harkness is evoking a very major one and also one that can read as quite toxic if not done carefully. (if you need a quick entry to the way the nickname makes me wince, look up ‘Cronulla Riots’. That’s the sort of person his name is evoking for me) The other problem on top of this – this is a soldier’s nickname. Harkness has never been in the Australian military (as far as I can tell). Combined with the fact he uses the title of ‘Captain’, he’s suggesting he’s got a military background that he 100% does not have. He’s a giant hypocrite. Now being part of the military in Australia reads differently to being part of the military in the USA, in how society sees it, but this is still not on. It’s not a natural nickname for an Australian to have, in his circumstances. It doesn’t even make sense as a traditional ironic nickname given by his friends. Which means he picked it himself. And for that style of nickname…choosing your own? That’s considered to be poor form and trying way too hard. (And nicknames are culturally important! For the personality Harkness is trying to present to his audience, he SHOULD have a nickname like this. My father’s is ‘Bones’, for instance. But choosing your own, and choosing one that implies traits that are not yours to display? Really really bad form)

Basically in summary, Harkness is very much coded in a lot of ways to essentially be the Australian equivalent of someone who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. With that sort of view of his home country.

What is fascinating is that when Harkness interacts with other Australian characters, they do not like him, so the writers are aware that he’s been written to be this level of objectionable.

Now, some of this coding in his character has just accumulated over 60+ years as stereotypes have evolved and things have become ever more socially unacceptable. But the interesting thing here is that the writers ACKNOWLEDGE that unacceptable behaviour from Harkness.

I hate him so much. And I also want to fix his dialogue, which suffers from being written by Americans, to include a bunch more extremely country ocker sayings. He NEEDS to be saying things like “stone the flaming crows” and “fair shake of the sauce bottle” and “flat out like a lizard drinking” and “I didn’t come here to fuck spiders”. Because he’s putting it on. And these are the sort of things he’d lean in to to convey that level of “oh I’m not from around here, I am quoting Crocodile Dundee at you but you didn’t even realise” that he’s written to have.

[daenystheedreamer]

How prevalent is American history in ur country? We literally learn nothing about Australia or NZ. I'm curious :)

(i did my schooling in australia so this is just aussie info) so in primary school (ages 6-12) we don't learn american history, just australian. mostly about captain cook, our gold rush, ned kelly, the stolen generation. i hated it i hated learning about captain cook it was so boring to me 😭 and of course its not done under any analytical lens of like critical race theory or under a wider scope of colonialism but thats another story lol. oh god and when they taught us about the stolen generation they of course said nothing about the state of australian racism to the indigenous population today.

we did learn about ww1 and 2 but only ever in the context of the pacific theatre. like we got gallipoli drilled into our heads. we did learn about the holocaust in year 8, but again not very america-related

in high school (13-18), our history classes start off still australian history (though there was the holocaust semester). around age 15 (year 9 for us) you can pick elective classes and those history classes and politics classes are more global. not american-centric, but since america looms so large we learned more about it.

honestly the thing is though that we DO learn a lot about american history because it's so soaked into media and culture. you just know about 1776 or the civil war or civil rights etcetc through movies and news and culture. a lot of people choose to be ignorant though and choose to act like 'oh thats not our business'

apologies for the long answer its just very complicated!

personal opinions under the cut

but it's never taught fully, and i think that's a huge problem. race in australia is pushed under the rug, its considered rude to bring it up. like by acknowledging racism you're doing racism. and especially its considered something of the past, like "yeah we were racist to the chinese in the gold rush" and "yeah we were racist to the aboriginals" ~bUT WERE BETTER NOW~ eugh

i think its really important for education to not be nationalistic. obviously we need to learn our country's history, but i'm also a filthy globalist and think everyone should be educated about everything. american history IS important to learn. there's this problem here where people call things like race or war or whatever 'an american problem' 'oh the americans always make things about race' 'the americans expect everyone to know their history" and its like well yeah its annoying but we SHOULD learn of course we should!

the US is the world's superpower. everything that happens in the US affects everyone else. whether its culture wars, social change, imperialism etc its something we have to learn. rahhh sorry this is all like personal qualms. you have no idea how maddening 2020 was. it was like all my classmates realised there was a world beyond our school.

[readingoals]

Getting ready for the Booklr Reads Australian challenge. These are a selection of Aussie books I own (fiction on the left, nonfic on the right) which I'll be choosing from during the month. I'm a mood reader so I have no idea what I'll actually end up picking but I'd like to get through at least a few of these.

List of titles and brief descriptions of each is below the cut for anyone looking for ideas for their own Australian reads.

The open book is The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon (my current read.) It's a rather sweet novel revolving around four women who's lives in Australia have been disrupted and who come together to open a tea shop in London.

A true History of the Hula Hoop by Judith Lanigan The book weaves together two parallel stories, one of Catherine, a struggling Aussie hula-hooping performance artist, and the other of Columbina, a feisty 16th century Italian female clown travelling through Europe with the first ever commedia dell'arte troupe, while also weaving in the history of the hula hoop.

Without Further Ado by Jessica Dettmann A romcom inspired by/paying homage to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, in which the protagonist loves the Kenneth Branagh adaptation and finds her love life mirroring the plot.

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne A romance inspired by Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, in which Victor Frankenstein's sister Angelika is anxious for love and decides to take matters into her own hands and create a suitable suitor.

Empires by Nick Earls This novel spans continents and centuries. It's split up into 5 parts, each occurring in a different time and place, but which all intertwine and connect. It's about two brother from Brisbane who've lead separate lives, but its also about humans in strange and difficult times, the way people see themselves, and the interconnectedness of all things.

The Tea Ladies by Amanda Hampson A cosy mystery set in 1965 Sydney. It follows a group of tea ladies who work in a fashion house getting tea and biscuits for the staff. Until a murder occurs in the building and the tea ladies become accidental sleuths.

Top End Girl by Miranda Tapsell Larrakia Tiwi actress Miranda Tapsell's memoir about her work and life as an Aboriginal woman and how she combined both when creating the film Top End Wedding.

Girt by David Hunt A humorous look at Australian history, from megafauna to Macquarie. Full of strange, ridiculous and bizarre stories.

Harlem Nights: The Secret History of Australia's Jazz Age by Deirdre O'Connell This is the story of the Sydney and Melbourne legs of American jazz band The Colored Idea's ill fated Australian tour in 1928. It's about the international rise of African American jazz, the history of Australia's entertainment industry and modernism in the arts in Australia, and the influence of the White Australia Policy beyond immigration issues.

Flash Jim: The Astonishing Story of the Convict Fraudster Who Wrote Australia's First Dictionary by Kel Richards This is a biography of conman, pickpocket and thief James Hardy Vaux who was sent to Australia as a convict. Not only does it go into explanations of his numerous crimes but also the origins of Australian English as Vaux also created a dictionary of the criminal slang of the colony, some of which can still be seen in modern Australian language.

Great Australian Mysteries by John Pinkney A collection of Australian true crime mysteries including inexplicable disappearances, unsolved murders and scientific enigmas.

Notorious Australian Women by Kay Saunders This book celebrates the lives of some of Australia's most fearless, brash, and scandalous women, including bushrangers, courtesans, and writers, amongst others.

[ya-world-challenge]

YA Books from 🇦🇺 Australia (mostly indigenous)

Continuing the country lists for the YA World Challenge! Firstly, there is no way I can list all the YA books from Australia - there's too many! For that reason, I'm sticking to indigenous books only for the individual books list.

If you want to find more Aussie authors, look for the #LoveOZYA tag, google some lists, browse some goodreads lists, and follow @thereadingchallengechallenge. Also check out the following anthologies to find your new favorite Aussie author:

Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories Meet Me at the Intersection

Indigenous YA The Things She's Seen, Amebelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (alt. Catching Teller Crow) 💚🦋 The Boy From the Mish, Gary Lonesborough (alt. Ready When You Are) 💚🌈 The Upwelling, Lystra Rose 💚🦋 Tracks of the Missing, Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler 💚🦋 Swallow the Air, Tara June Winch 💚 Ghost Bird, Lisa Fuller 💚🦋 Songs That Sound Like Blood, Jared Thomas 💚🌈 Calypso Summer, Jared Thomas 💚 Sweet Guy, Jared Thomas 💚 My Spare Heart, Jared Thomas 💚 The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf, Amebelin Kwaymullina (series) 💚🦋 Secrets from the Dust, George Hamilton ⌛ My Father's Shadow, Jannali Jones 💚 Too Flash, Melissa Lucashenko 💚 Killing Darcy, Melissa Lucashenko 💚 Grace Beside Me, Sue McPherson 💚 Brontide, Sue McPherson 💚 Wraith, Shane Smithers & Alex Smithers 💚🦋 Fog a Dox, Bruce Pascoe 💚 Njunjul The Sun, Meme McDonald Shauna's Great Expectations, Kathleen Loughnan

Middle Grade Bindi, Kirli Saunders 💚 Sister Heart, Sally Morgan 💚 Black Cockatoo, Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler 💚 Ubby's Underdogs, Brenton E. McKenna (GN) 💚 Wombat, mudlark and other stories, Helen Milroy 💚 Wylah the Koorie Warrior, Jordan Gould, Richard Pritchard

Memoir & Nonfiction Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, Various Authors 💚 Remembered By Heart: An Anthology of Indigenous Writing, Various Authors 💚 Blakwork, Alison Whittaker 💚 Jandamarra & the Bunuba Resistance: A True Australian Hero, Howard Pedersen⌛

Coming of Age Becoming Kirrali Lewis, Jane Harrison 💚⌛

💚 First Nations Author (based on author's bios, may be missing data) 🛩️ Immigrant or diaspora 🏖️ non-native characters in or about the country (ex. vacation/adventure) ⌛ Historical 🦋 Fantasy or Paranormal 🌈 LGBT

If you know of more titles I could add, just leave a comment! (I hope my sources weren't too outdated)

[olivers-cocoapuffs]

I don’t think I’ve shared with you my indigenous Australian James head canons so buckle your seatbelts, we’re going for a ride.

He half Australian (mum) and half British (dad) and they lived in Australia (QLD) until he was 9

he has a weird accent because of his time in australia and his time in Britain and the two mixing together.

Sirius thinks he’s joking when James tells them that they eat Kangaroo (he’s not)

He’s really proud of his culture and shares it with anyone who asks (or doesn’t)

Effie used to tell James Dreamtime stories and he does the same for the younger years in the common room

James also uses dream time stories to calm Sirius down from his nightmares

james and regulus with in the Astronomy tower and swap stories about the stars

James has a small Aboriginal flag pin on his bag next to a pride pin

James makes spears (he tries to show his friends too but they’re not as good at it)

when they sit by the lake James wades in and spears fish (he feeds it to Padfoot, Cat Reg or the kitchens)

Bilingual King

He refers to animals as their aboriginal names

(alternate) animagus is a Kookaburra or an emu

The Potters go to Australia for holidays every summer and Sirius joins them (after he runs away)

When Sirius is in Australia he gets to see more of James’ culture and he meets James’ extended family

He uses a black cockatoo feather quill

He excels in Herbology and care of magical creatures (alongside transfig)

he’s really big on protecting the environment and not wasting resources

he fucking hates spiders (they tease him about being a shitty Aussie, even tho Sirius and Peter also detest them)

James protested for the treaty of 1988

He loves crosshatching and his parchment has often got it in the corners or on the back

Effie cooks traditional meals and everyone adores them

He makes Remus special tea after a full moon

he only uses native Australian bee honey (snob)

still uses aussie slang and laughs when people don’t understand him

he can play the didgeridoo

Frank is half Australian and they bond over it

he listens to Yothu Yindi and king stingray

first time Regulus sees him in traditional clothes (with the clay markings) he stutters and turns red

Face claim: Thomas Weatherall

[qnewsau]

Jonathan Berry is first Indigenous Aussie crowned Mr Universe

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/jonathan-berry-is-first-indigenous-aussie-crowned-mr-universe/

Jonathan Berry is first Indigenous Aussie crowned Mr Universe

Jonathan Berry has made history as the first Australian man and first Indigenous Australian to be crowned Mr Universe.

The out gay Tasmanian man is the first Aussie to win either the Mr or Ms Universe title since Jennifer Hawkins exactly 20 years ago.

The Palawa man won the title at the Mr Universe pageant held in India this month.

“History was made tonight … I won Mr Universe,” Jonathan wrote on Instagram.

“The first Australian to hold a Universe title since Jennifer Hawkin’s win 20 years ago … The first Australian male ever sent and the first Aboriginal person in history.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way and who made this possible.

“A huge shout out to all the incredible men I competed alongside. It’s been amazing to get to know you all and learn about your beautiful countries and cultures.

“I can’t wait to bring this home to you all and start my reign. I’m so full of pride and so honoured and so exhausted at the same time.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Berry (@jonyberryofficial)

Jonathan Berry was also the first Indigenous Mr World Australia in 2019 and was Palawa representative for Sydney WorldPride last year.

Ahead of the win, he told the National Indigenous Times representing First Nations people at the contest was “an immense honour”.

“[It’s] a great responsibility to represent both Australia and the broader First Nations community. This opportunity allows me to showcase the richness of our culture and advocate for greater representation,” he said.

“This time I’m also approaching it from the perspective of inner strength and outer courage. There were so many issues around me wearing the Aboriginal flag at Mr World and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to really challenge it.

“I’ve come so far as an Indigenous man. I want to show the Universe the strength we have as a First Nations people.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Berry (@jonyberryofficial)

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[blubushie]

MASTERLIST FOR TANGENTS

G'day, this is just for future reference!

GUIDE TO SAFE TRIPPING

BUSHMAN SHIT

So You Want To Be a Bushie How I became a bushie How I got my name Why I piss in jars Greatest achievement as a hunter Favourite constellations Bush tucker pt 1 Bush tucker pt 2 Eating honeypot ants Flavour of bugs Kangaroo meat flavour Stockman life How roughstock scoring works How to use scentcover

BLU LORE

Bludaism Why I hate reckless drivers Buying my dream car (check reblogs) List of work done to Mattie (check reblogs) Explaining semi-verbal Explaining my intersex condition (NSFW) How my implant works Explaining bushstraight Most profound experience How Blu met Jacko Naming objects Why I'm open about my sex life Sea shanties aboard the Akuna Listing my scars DNI tenets Blu and ASPD/sociopathy More on ASPD ASPD and violent thoughts Admitting ASPD How my ASPD aliases work Low empathy and naming objects The emotional toll of taking a life

BUSH STORIES

Stories from the bush A Tale of Dingos A Tale of LSD A Tale of Stockwhips A Tale of Tooheys A Tale of Bulldogs A Tale of Pigs A Tale of High-Rollers The worst thing I've ever done [WARNING FOR ANIMAL DEATH]

TF2

Shit I hate about fandom Sniper Shit I hate about fandom TF2 How I got into TF2

WEAPONS

Winnie infodump Bullet mistakes in media Firearm mistakes in media pt 1 Firearm mistakes in media pt 2 Difference between guns vs firearms My opinion on automatic weapons Favourite firearms Favourite knives Favourite swords Blu's firearms Discussing licences Best self-defence sidearms

MEDICINE

Medical inaccuracies in media Bush medicines I've used

OTHER

Smoking mistakes in media Misconceptions about horses I hate carp 18-in-1 soap Thoughts on cryptids Favourite video games Favourite Pokemon Car infodump Favourite cars Blu hates speeders Duality of Tumblr pt 1 Duality of Tumblr pt 2

AUSTRALIA

What is Vegemite? Colour composition during ceremony Aboriginal mythology Favourite Dreaming stories Australian slang pt 1 Australian slang pt 2 AFL/NRL choice teams Grief with M*lbourne Australian stereotypes Dumbest argument Preferred term for Aboriginal Aussie Aboriginal art at Ubirr

FLORA & FAUNA

Dandarabilla Discussing the wildlife Plants and animals infodump pt 1 Plants and animals infodump pt 2 Water buffalo Hunting crocodiles Favourite crabs

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

PSILOCYBIN DOSAGE GUIDE Beating my addictions Illicit substances I've done My experiences with DMT I thought I was a fish

[tutuandscoot]

I wanna preface this by saying I mean no offence to the skaters and people I’m about to mention, just the programs, costumes, overall spectacle..

So.

What a freaking mood kill it must’ve been watching the 2010 FD event live (there in person but on tv as well) to watch VM deliver THAT performance, in their home country with the crowd going nuts, then to follow with the two programs by BA and DS..

It’s like stepping back in time 10 years in a matter of moments. The contrast between the future and the past in just.. 15 minutes or so. Now it’s not as though the atmosphere in the arena totally dies in tha arse.. being two top teams there was a fair amount of applause, it’s just the artistic mood kill it must’ve been. Like going from watching a performance of Swan Lake, to… some low budget horror movie. I watch it and just think what the hell were you people (these more dated style teams and their costumers/choreographers) thinking?? Was it not embarrassing to come out after VM- a boy and girl dressed so simply in a blouse and trousers and a white dress wearing…. What they were wearing?? For DS: a trash bag looking cape thing??, BA: him in that all white… elvis-esk get up. THE WHITE SKATE COVERS 🫣🫣🫣. (Also the first two teams in the final group-DW and FS were dressed more simply/appropriately to the sport and character of the program.. not to just say VM are the only ones who get it- but they ARE the best example).

I was watching 2002 worlds the other day- the one after the Salt Lake olys and Rod and Tracey are talking about the “costumes” and how something needs to be done about it (Rod asking ‘wasn’t something done about’ it and Tracey responding ‘yes’ but clearly no one listened) and/or teams should be penalised for excessive costumes. Part of me thinks, as the person skating in this stuff, just.. how do they do it?? Like isn’t it uncomfortable, restrictive, a headache to partner in?? And then the spectator in me thinks you look like idiots! I find it so difficult to watch bc you can’t make out hardly anything that’s happening. These were two (at the time) highly ranked teams with obviously good skating skills but just the visual- the first thing you see- those costumes already gives you the impression of sloppyness. I’ve said before, it’s not like these people are on stage with sets and lights and other people dressed like them so it makes sense, they are just two people in a sports arena with no prior context for what they are portraying, coming out dressed, as these two teams (and there were many more at this event, I only point out these two bc they skated after VM and were medal contenders) did… it just looked ridiculous.

VM come out just as themselves dressed stunningly and there is no distraction whatsoever to their skating and dancing, even in other programs of their’s- more specific character ones the costume is never a distraction- it always aids in it.

BA were skating to Ava Maria, now why couldn’t they dress in something like VM?? White- the angel/heavenly. There could still be some reference to wings or whatever, but not to the point where it is a complete distraction.

DS.. just.. omg. That PLUS the aboriginal dance (like guys it was so bad there were Aussie news reports with aboriginal elders talking about how offensive and not representative of their culture it was). So their music/ story was ‘the double life of Veronique’. I looked it up and apparently it’s a movie about a woman who leads a double life/has an identical twin? Idk.. Now why did they dress like a fabric shop went through a garbage disposal machine??? There were rhinestoned faces on both their costumes but you could only make those out up close. Why couldn’t they just dress her in a simple dress and him in something similar (maybe different colours) to Scott and tell the story through movement.. bc the program makes ZERO sense.

[Also: nothing says you have to use music from a movie or theatre show or ballet and skate as the character/s from said production. You can use the music just as music and create your own story, or have no story at all (VM once mentioned this about wanting to skate to R+J but we’re told they were “too old” (which is bullshit) but considered using the music and just dancing to it.. SEE WHY I YELL SO MUCH ABOUT VM GETTING IT). ]

Take something like VM’s Moulin Rouge. Their costumes are reminiscent of the film/stage show, but they weren’t confined to that story in those costumes- they could’ve worn them for a number of different stories/music selections. But they told the story through their movement and interactions together. The lifts (as I’ve detailed) tell the story. The way they touch and hold each other, look at each other. It makes complete sense yet it is also up for interpretation.

With these older programs.. this ‘style’ there is so much going on; either the program doesn’t make sense, they try so hard to make a vague theme seem literal that the skating and athleticism suffers… it’s one thing watching it in 2002, people saying this is ridiculous, but most teams were doing this sort of ‘style’, but in 2010.. I mean VM really were the most “bare”, simple team.. and did it not look the best?? To the untrained eye who can’t really tell skating details apart (me): it is soooo much more pleasant to watch Valse Triste over the majority of programs that year. Just a girl and boy dancing to beautiful music, dressed beautifully- showing off their beautiful posture, long, straight pointed legs and feet, no distractions from their musicality and connection to each other. Stripped down to the bare minimum and everything that should matter in their judged sport can be judged without distraction. Same with Umbrellas, but this time with a theme and story. Same with Pink Floyd- (worlds) themeless, all about the movement and musicality. Same with Mahler.. are we seeing a pattern here?? SAME WITH ALL THEIR PROGRAMS. Every time they came up against (top) teams wearing too much with two much going on.

I guess my gripe is; how did it take this long to realise dressing like that looked ridiculous?? It’s just crazy to watch, and getting back to the original point, it must’ve been so strange, and I wonder if people watching live could make that distinction that just visually, forget athletically, what VM were doing was stratospheres better. And STILL stands up today as one of the greatest ice dance performances of all time.

So yeah…

Here’s VM expressing my exact reaction:

[spaghett-onaplate]

8, 11, 17, 20 for the country ask thing <333

hii avie thanks for the ask <3

8. do you get confused with other nationalities? if so, which ones and by whom? hmm I mean I haven't gone overseas so I don't have any first-hand experience, but I have heard a lot of stories of aussies going to europe and receiving rude treatment until the europeans realise they're not american and then they get on well 😭

11. favourite native writer/poet? hm good question! there are a lot of writers and poets, but I'm all too familiar with the classic authors. but markus zusak is an aussie author who wrote the book thief, which is a book i really like!

17. are you interested in your country’s history? yeah! mainly the aboriginal dreamtime stories, i find them really interesting. we read a few in primary school; my favourites including tiddalick the frog and how the birds got their colours. I don't really remember any others - oh and not sure if it is a dreamtime story, but i like the story behind the three sisters in the blue mountains. besides those, i'm also interested in the history of aborginal groups before colonisation, especially the food. we did a unit on that in food tech which was great. damper is my favourite

20. which sport is The Sport in your country? hmm not much of a sports guy so i don't really know, but i would say rugby league, AFL (not that i can tell the difference between those two ;;) and cricket are the biggest!

[ask-an-aussie]

For those who didn't know, Archie Roach died this year. I haven't been on this blog much, and I apologise - I burnt myself out this year and am finally starting to recover.

But first I have to post about Archie Roach. I'm not big into music or anything but this guy was, and still is, a big deal.

If you know any of his songs it will be that one.

Archibalie was an Australian singer, songwriter and Aboriginal activist. Also known as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung elder who campaigned for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The song "took the children away" is about the stolen generation- when white people decided it would be best if aboriginal children where taken from their families to be raised the white way.

His songs are amazing and always give me goosebumps. All Aussies should know of him, and at least this one song of his, if not others. Archie himself was a stolen child and you can hear his real life experience in the song.

Paul Kelly, musician: "I first heard about Archie through my guitar player, Steve Connolly, who’d seen him on a TV show called Blackout and said, “You gotta hear this guy.” We wanted to do something special for our Hamer Hall show in 1990 so we tracked down Archie [to support]. He finished [his set] with Took the Children Away. There was this stunned silence; he thought he’d bombed. Then this wave of applause grew and grew; I’d never heard anything like it."

Adam Briggs, musician: "It wasn’t until I was older that I grasped the importance and weight of his songs. Took the Children Away is a pivotal song for Australia. That line – “This story’s right, this story’s true, I would not tell lies to you” – sums up his whole career and why he resonates with everybody. I reckon if you don’t like Archie Roach, there’s something wrong with you."

[stevesbipanic]

You're from Oz??? I came back from the East Coast after six weeks and now I'm in shitty, cold England again. I have heard of a yowie and aren't there bunyips as well? My favourite stories are the ones about the dreamtime and how things came to be. The guide when we went to different rivers explained it best - there's always a scientific explanation, but there are stories as well. If you're in Brisbane, there is the art of disney exhibition at the Queensland museum and I was stimming so funking hard when I went. Disney is my special interest and paying the 28 dollary doos was totally worth it. My sister and I both have disney as our special interest and its always funny to me how we ask each other like super obscure questions and we know it just like that and then afterwards it's like "come on, give me something HARD!"

Sis - Yo dude, question

Me - Answer

Sis - True or false, Lin Manuel Miranda has a tattoo of a tea cup on his shin to commemorate his grandfather?

Me - False! It's a coffee cup on his wrist to commemorate his grandmother! Come on, something hard!

We were also watching a gameshow once and one question was Disney songs and their movies and you had to match them up. One of them was 'My Funny Friend And Me' which no one got and my sister and I were screaming the answer at the telly. It's the emperor's new groove and the reason no one got it is it wasn't in the film itself, it was in the credits.

Yes true blue Aussie here 😄🇦🇺

Bunyips are definitely also part of our folklore. The Dreamtime stories given to us from our Aboriginal people have always been important to me, we learnt about them in our primary school years to help us connect with our country and nature.

That exhibit is also super cool, I haven't gone but I know some people who have, nothing better than having someone who shares your special interest or just someone who will let you info dump onto them.

[writingthroughmyass]

Trying to work on a new Logan fic but my ideas are just all over the joint 😭

I know I wanna do enemies to friends to lovers typa thing

DP wolverine verse where reader is a mutant with a physical mutation and the daily harassment gets to her and makes her snap and she attacks some peeps.

Cue Logan stepping in and being like wtf dude this is not the way. He channels his inner Charles and tries to get her to see that not everyone is like that and to have hope in humanity.

I'm so cringe but I watched Australia last night because Hugh Jackman and Baz Luhrmann ofc and it got me thinking a lot of bigotry with the racism and the stolen generation and like will people ever fucking change because dude Aussies are so disgusting towards the aboriginals and Torres strait Islanders.

That combined with all the stuff about the boxer Imane and I was like dude I feel like X-Men probably doesn't take it far enough with how people would react to mutants in reality. Human society fucking hates anybody different. The amount of disgusted looks my mum and I would get in public when I was a kid is fucking insane (I'm mixed and it's very obvious when I'm standing next to my mum lol).

But anyways I wanna explore some of that and how social media has caused it all to kick up a notch (playing Spiderman 2 and seeing the way they incorporate social media with the story has been pretty interesting).

I'll figure it out eventually 🥲

[thewritermuses]

Mystery Road

Mystery Road - Rachel Perkins - Season 1

This is part of my unedited thoughts series. 10/10 This is a great story. We are woven into the lives of this outback town where two young men have gone missing.Everyone is involved in some way. From the owner of the homestead where the men worked and the local aboriginal land council to local drug runners.The fact that all the people in town are related to the plot in some way makes for a great story that allows you to keep guessing about what has happened. The intertwined plot has lots happening, some of which is related to the disappearances, some of which isn't.What an incredible performance by Aaron Pedersen as Jay - the lead detective. He is understated, letting things play out and slowly steering scenes where he wants them to go.

With brilliant writing and great acting - what's not to love? Get into this must-see Aussie Cop drama! Read the full article

[rankertopanwar]

Manshed auctions

Manshed Auctions

In the realm of collectors and enthusiasts, where passion meets pursuit, Manshed Auctions stands as a beacon of discovery. Specializing in an array of niche interests, from vintage memorabilia to rustic relics, Manshed beckons aficionados and curious souls alike to delve into the captivating world of auctions. With a virtual gallery at your fingertips, let’s embark on a journey to uncover the treasures awaiting within the digital halls of Manshed Auctions.

Manshed Auctions: A Haven for Collectors

Nestled within the digital landscape, Manshed Auctions boasts a diverse collection that caters to a spectrum of interests. For those seeking the allure of the bygone eras, Mancave auctions offer a nostalgic retreat into the world of vintage memorabilia and collectibles. From retro signage to classic advertisements, each item holds a story, waiting to be cherished by its new custodian.

Rail auctions chug along the tracks of history, presenting enthusiasts with a ticket to explore the world of locomotives and railways. Whether it’s vintage model trains or antique railway artifacts, these auctions provide a platform for railway aficionados to add to their collections and preserve a piece of transportation heritage.

Memorabilia auctions serve as a treasure trove for fans of pop culture, sports, and entertainment. Dive into a sea of autographed memorabilia, rare artifacts, and iconic pieces that evoke memories of beloved moments and celebrated figures. From vintage movie posters to sports jerseys worn by legends, each item encapsulates a piece of history, waiting to find its place in a new home.

Exploring Beyond the Rails: A Diverse Selection

While railways and memorabilia capture the spotlight, Manshed Auctions extends its offerings to encompass a myriad of interests. Petrol auctions revitalize the nostalgia of old gas stations, featuring vintage petrol pumps, signage, and oil memorabilia. Whether for restoration projects or decorative purposes, these auctions cater to petrolheads and collectors with an appreciation for automotive history.

Australiana auctions celebrate the rich tapestry of Australian heritage, showcasing indigenous art, vintage bush items, and cultural artifacts. From Aboriginal paintings to classic Aussie collectibles, these auctions pay homage to the diverse traditions and landscapes of the land down under, inviting collectors to immerse themselves in its vibrant spirit.

Deceased estate auctions offer a glimpse into the lives and legacies of those who have passed on, presenting a curated selection of heirlooms, antiques, and treasures. Each item carries a narrative of its own, weaving together the threads of history and memory into a tapestry of remembrance.

Beyond the confines of traditional auctions, Manshed embraces the rustic charm of yesteryears with enamel sign auctions, bowser auctions, and oil auctions. These auctions cater to enthusiasts of vintage signage, petrol paraphernalia, and industrial artifacts, providing a platform to acquire unique pieces that add character to any space.

Unearthing Hidden Gems: The Thrill of Collecting

At the heart of Manshed Auctions lies the thrill of discovery, where each bid is a chance to unearth hidden gems and add a touch of history to one’s collection. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer to the world of auctions, the virtual halls of Manshed beckon with promises of adventure and nostalgia.

Collectible auctions offer a playground for enthusiasts to indulge in their passions, with a diverse array of items ranging from rare coins to antique furniture. With each auction, collectors have the opportunity to expand their horizons, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and bring home pieces that resonate with their personal interests and tastes.

Vintage auctions serve as a gateway to the past, offering a curated selection of timeless treasures that evoke the charm and elegance of bygone eras. From retro fashion to mid-century furniture, these auctions celebrate the enduring appeal of vintage aesthetics, inviting collectors to adorn their spaces with pieces that stand the test of time.

In the dynamic world of Manshed Auctions, the thrill of bidding is matched only by the satisfaction of winning a coveted item and adding it to one’s collection. Whether you’re drawn to the allure of railways, the nostalgia of memorabilia, or the rustic charm of vintage relics, Manshed Auctions invites you to embark on a journey of exploration and discovery. With each auction, a new adventure awaits, promising excitement, camaraderie, and the joy of uncovering treasures that speak to the heart.

Visit for more details - https://manshedauctions.com.au/

[anthonybusa1]

Australian Horror

Australian horror literature and film occupy a unique niche within the broader genre of horror, marked by a distinctive interplay of cultural, geographical, and historical elements. The vast and often hostile Australian landscape plays a significant role in shaping the narratives, imbuing them with an intense sense of isolation and existential dread that is relatively uncommon in other regional horror traditions. This is evident in both literature and film where the outback—characterized by its arid expanses, treacherous terrain, and sparse human presence—becomes almost a character itself, imposing formidable challenges on protagonists and heightening their vulnerabilities. Thematically, Australian horror frequently grapples with colonial history and indigenous folklore. The unsettling legacy of British colonization permeates many stories, manifesting in themes of guilt, retribution, and unresolved conflicts between settler and indigenous cultures.

Films like “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975) evoke a haunting ambiguity tied to the land’s ancient history—a mystery that remains unsolved partly because it transcends Western comprehension. On another front are narratives deeply rooted in Aboriginal mythology which explore supernatural elements intrinsic to Indigenous belief systems. These tales often challenge Western perceptions of reality by presenting alternate cosmologies that reflect rich spiritual traditions. Australian horror also often explores psychological terror alongside physical threats. Novels such as Joan Lindsay's "Picnic at Hanging Rock" or Kenneth Cook's "Wake in Fright" delve into the mental unraveling that occurs under extreme environmental duress or social isolation. In these works, horror emerges not from external monsters but from the fragility of the human mind exposed to relentless natural forces or societal breakdowns. Another significant aspect is how modern urban anxieties manifest in Australian horror cinema.

Movies like “Wolf Creek” (2005) tap into fears surrounding trust and safety when dealing with strangers in remote locations—a narrative reflecting broader societal concerns about crime rates and personal security within Australia's rural-urban divide contextually resonating even globally for audiences familiar with similar dichotomies elsewhere. Body-horror films represent yet another sub-genre prevalent within this sphere; however here too they incorporate local flavors tailored specifically towards addressing uniquely Australian experiences – be it genetic mutations resultant due particular ecosystemic factors ("Razorback",1984), parasitic infestations drawn directly influenced real-life dangerous fauna endemic region etc., ensuring content retains distinctiveness while remaining universally horrifyingly relatable simultaneously.. Importantly though: despite these varied threads running through much output overall unity achieved via commitment showcasing authentic national essence irrespective whether concerning subject matter surroundings characters themselves all anchored solidly within unmistakable 'Aussie' context reminding us horrors pervade universal existences albeit interpreted experienced uniquely everywhere hence collectively enriching artform globally! Furthermore underpinning everything lies critical examination sociopolitical constructs especially related identity ethnicity gender power dynamics wherein status quo often challenged provocatively powerful meaningful ways thereby elevating mere entertainment something profound stirring thought-provoking dialogue society-at-large force self-reflection ultimately growth progression forward better understanding complexities humanity diverse facets singular story shared existence enabling deeper connections amidst tumultuous uncertainties modern world increasingly interlinked intertwined paths unpredictable trajectories unfolding inexorably ahead eternally mystifying inevitably enthralling ceaseless journey discovery wondering dreading hoping surviving together ever more resilient resolute indefatigable spirit enduring sheer awe life itself magnificent grotesque sublime myriad forms

Sources :

[mfmousequake]

MouseQuake Thought Of The Day: Realization...

Last night, I watched a movie on Netflix called "The Sapphires". It's a true story based on an female Aborigine singing group. It chronicled their origins, and the things they dealt with being a black female singing group in Australia in the 60's. They sang country music at a talent competition to a crowd that did not want them there. But even with the open hostility, they sang. Even though they were the better of the participants, they did not win. But the MC (who was a piano player) cried out "This was a fix". He was then fired, but this man was a soul music lover. He loved to play everything from Sam and Dave, to Wilson Pickett, to James Brown. He liked their voices and spunk and wanted to work with them. He then went to ask for permission from their parents to do so. He was granted that permission and then began to teach them (get this) African-American SOUL MUSIC. They practiced, and practiced 60's soul music for an audition to sing for the troops in Vietnam. They got the job. They in turn had a great number of life shaping experiences. It is an inspiring film... But as I watched it, I had a mind awaking revelation.

One of the members was a "fair skinned" sister. This meant she was black but light enough to pass for white. See in those days, the Australian government would roam the country stealing these children to integrate them into white society. They would effectively assimilate them to their vision of an Aussie. They would mentally eliminate all of their blackness.

The Aborigine were despised for being black (and in most cases still are). Everything about them the Australian government despised. They were often called "sub-human" and treated like animals. But the Australian government wanted the "sub-human animals” to work for them, cook their food, have sex with them, and take their children away to be their own. Interesting, and familiar. Why does this scenario seem to be like a repeat of a television show all over the world? It's simple...

Black People in America:

There is a known power in US.

But it seems to slip by us.

There is a known strength in our people.

But it seems to wasted by us. There is something inside our people that others all over the world want to possess.

But it seems to fall by the wayside by us.

We are the world's heartbeat whether it will acknowledge it

or not.

Every little thing we do becomes what the world wants to do. Look around, its right there if you are paying attention. Whether it be in fashion, lifestyle choices, swagger, and especially music.

But we don't seem to even acknowledge within ourselves.

We work so damned hard to try to "fit in" and make being us feel comfortable for everyone else.

When all along the world wants to be us.

It's as if we are eternally lost trying to be who and what we are not for the sake of "fitting in".

There is a known power in our people. Us.

See, we are the mold that everything is built from.

If the entire world knows we are the model, then why in the hell don’t we?

Because even when we don't think and act as if we are, WE ARE.

Let that marinate for a second. Then tell me why you can't see it for yourself?

Because if you can't, you need to find out why...

MouseQuake