Comments on: How Ashley became Australian

By: Douglas Howe

Douglas Howe — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 05:16:40 +0000

Fascinating. In answer to my question, “why did you migrate to Australia”, a female Canadian engineer working for me some years ago stated “too many Toronto winters” and after working in Russia/Siberia during winter, I can relate to that issue.
However, my grandparents (born in 1890s) still referred to England as “home” despite being 3rd generation Australian. Being Australian then often meant a colonial without a separate Australian identity although this was rapidly changing. After WW2, European migration significantly impacted Australia and John O”Grady’s book satirises the challenges of learning to be Australian at that time. Living in country NSW, how to be an Australian meant leaving behind all European issues, and often European identity, and adopting the English/Irish/Australian identity of the majority including anglicising names, drinking beer, driving a Holden and living in growing suburbia. Post 1975 and the end of the White Australia Policy has formed Australia into a multicultural society with arguably no single clear identity but broad range of identifying characteristics (the demographers may disagree) . Now anyone can claim to be “Australian” , just keep your name, drink wine, drive an imported car and leave suburbia. Welcome!

By: David Bussman

David Bussman — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 03:29:35 +0000

I enjoyed Ashley Blunt’s interview. As Ashley is relatively new to Australia and its ways, I can heartily recommend, for the purposes of further edification about some earlier explanation/examples concerning Australian conventions and attitudes, the short stories written by Henry Lawson and for visual satisfaction the 1960′s movie “They’re A Weird Mob” based on a book by John O’Grady. Well done, Ashley, and a belated welcome to Aussie from me.

By: Bernadette Samonte

Bernadette Samonte — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 01:46:37 +0000

Being an Australian means multi-culturalism. Being exposed to various cultures, people, food delicacies, religious and political beliefs all in one place and living in harmony. This is what being an Australian is all about.