Australia Day

Ian C. Purdie ^ | 25 Jan 2003 | Ian C. Purdie

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Australia Day has just commenced minutes ago.

A loooong time ago, 215 years to be exact, Captain Arthur Phillip, along with several ships including ships conveying wretched convicts, landed at what is now known as "Sydney Cove" and established a colony.

In large measure this was motivated by the loss of US colonies in the "War of Independence".

These two acts of history are in fact inter-related.

Thankfully, Captain Arthur Phillip, did not seek to establish a penal colony, but with great foresight, a fresh start for a new nation.

He succeeded beyond his wildest expectations. A very humane man, to whom I pay homage today.

Our 215th birthday and I don't forget our aboriginal brethren who as a result, became "dispossessed".

Some of the best radio operators in the world come from Australia. The late Percy Hiram among the notables.

72/73's

Ian C. Purdie Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords S33°14', E151°34' VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91 http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/

http://www.hamilton.net.au/Waltzing_Matilda_(march_style).mid

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I *KNEW* I should have previewed that!

Ian C. Purdie Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords S33°14', E151°34' VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91

www.electronics-tutorials.com

Waltzing Matilda is, briefly, a song about a tramp who camps by a creek and steals a sheep. Three policemen arrive; rather than submit to capture, the tramp commits suicide by drowning himself in the creek.

It's not exactly in the same league as "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "La Marseillaise", but it's the song that Australians get teary-eyed over when they hear it played a long way from home.

The official anthem, by the way, is Advance Australia Fair



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