full steam ahead

Just like it says at the top of the clip... this is Paula Poundstone





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Celebrating Australia

On Australia Day [26 Jan] back in 1938, a day of mourning was held by the Australian Aborigines League.

By 1957 governments had provided funding to establish NAIDOC, the National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee, the idea being to have an Aborigines' Day every year on the first Sunday of July. Happily, counter-protests are still made on 26th January, which some people refer to as Invasion Day.

Now The Age advises that an indigenous version of our national anthem will be sent to 5,000 schools.
Peter Garrett has announced 130,000 in funding to distribute the teaching resources to our schools.

I've never really been sure whether Australian athletes mumble the song when they win Olympic medals because they don't know the words or because they find them embarrassing. 

The tune reminds me of a funeral dirge, and the mumbling seems to confirm it must be.

The look on the kid's face - the chap at the back on the first frame of this video - says everything there is to know about the anthem. I wonder what he would make of the lyrics that were used 100 years ago? [reproduced below]

The Age reports that the Luritja expression Kutju Australia translates as "Go Forward Australia".

I bet Julia Gillard is stoked!

The Original Lyrics of Advance Australia Fair:

Australia's sons let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Britannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make our youthful Commonwealth
Renowned of all the lands;
For loyal sons beyond the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Britannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a English soul.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"