Let's Go Outback Tonight

Let's Go Outback Tonight

~Blog post #2~

April 9, 2015

by: Eric Mas 

     G'Day Mate!  Australia has one of the most diverse societies in the world.  One in four Australian residents were born outside of Australia and many more are first or second generation which include the children and grandchildren of recently arrived migrants and refugees.  This wide variety of backgrounds, together with the culture of Indigenous Australians who have lived on the Australian continent for more than 50,000 years, have helped create a uniquely Australian identity and spirit.

     One of Australia's most important holidays is Australia Day.  This day is celebrated every January 26 and coincides with the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.  The many celebrations reflect Australia's diverse society and landscape, remarkable achievements and bright future.  It also is an opportunity to reflect on our nation's history and how the people can make Australia a better place.  Many people celebrate with friends and family.

     Saint Mary MacKillop also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who together with Father Julian Tenison Woods founded the first St. Joseph's school.  She also founded the Sisters  of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart.  Young men came to join Mary, and so the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was begun.  She was born in Melbourne but is know for activities in South Australia.  She was beatified in 1995 by Pope John Paul II.

 

     Anzac cookies were popularized by World War I care packages sent to soldiers of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) since they could be made without eggs, and they kept well on the overseas voyage to Europe.  Mostly the soldiers' wives baked these biscuits for their husbands.  Cookies are called biscuits in Australia; these biscuits contain rolled oats, flour, coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking powder, and boiling water.  

Sources:

1) "Australia.gov.au." Our People. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

2) "About Our National Day." ‐ Australia Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

3) "Mary MacKillop's Story." Mary MacKillop's Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

4) "Anzac Biscuits." Martha Stewart. N.p., 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.