How much do you know about Australia?

[Platypus]

No googling; please don't look at other's responses-it'll take the fun out of it for yourself.

15 questions; not all hard, but some are. Some will be easy if you've read my (perhaps far too numerous) posts on stuff relating to Australia, some will require other basic knowledge of australian culture, history and geography.

Good luck, mate!

1. The Swan River flows through which Australian state capital?

2. What are 'The Ashes'?

3. Which states bank the Murray River?

4. Who has the balance of power in the federal Senate?

5. Which European (re)discovered Australia? (Both answers accepted, bonus point for one of them in particular)

6. In which city would you find the suburb of Toorak?
a) Melbourne
b) Adelaide
c) Sydney
d) Perth

7. What is the primary sport of Tasmania?
a) Rugby League
b) Australian Rules
c) Cricket
d) Rugby Union

8. Who is Premier of Queensland? What Party is he from (half point each)

9. From which political party does the Prime Minister come from? What is his name? (half point each)

10. The name "Macquarie" is often found in titles of places, universities, institutions, etc.; who was 'Macquarie'?

11. In which state or territory would you find Gundagai? (half point)
In which state or territory would you find Wonthaggi? (half point)

12. What are 'aspirationals'?  (half point)
What are 'doctor's wives'? (half point)

13. What is the most popular Australian beer, amongst Australians?

14. In which city would you find the suburb of Leichardt?
a) Canberra
b) Brisbane
c) Melbourne
d) Sydney

15. Who was the Australian Prime Minister immediately preceeding the current PM?

There may be a sequel, if there is enough interest.

[Platypus]

Not too bad; 4 points. You still failed, but hey; you gave it a shot. Kudos.

[Platypus]

hey, we thumped you in the first test, very almost beat you in the second test, and drew the third test-I think we are actually doing better, mate

BTW, I have never been alive whilst England has held the Ashes. I don't think you have either. Does it hurt?

(Oh, and answer the bloody quiz).

[Platypus]

Al, you're all right, except for 4-either "The Nationals" or "The Coalition" woild have been acceptable; the dutch guy was Dirk Hartog Janszoon is another possible answer, but hes mot fully verified; Macquarie was an early Governor of NSW (i'll give you that one); aspirationals are sorta of your Kaths and Kims, your description will do just fine though; Aussies drink VB (Victoria Bitter).

I thought Aussie Rules was the premier sport of Tasmania full stop. I'm fairly sure it's bigger then cricket, anyway-if not in participation, then in followers. I'll give you half a point for that anyway.

12 and a half points-impressive! you pass with flying colours.

[Platypus]

Blerpiez, you may now look at Al's answers . 5 and a half points-that's a pass

[Platypus]

wow, some hilarious answers here. Guys, feel free to lokm at the answers now-most can be found in Al's post, the others in my response to it. 5 points is a pass.

PADem, that was disgraceful, for a Kiwi

And Howard as Labor? That's like calling Ted Kennedy a conservative Republican

[Platypus]

btw, it id snow, for the first time in twenty years, in some of the really hilly suburbs-but not enough for ground cover. That did occur in some country areas, though. And Tasmania.

[Platypus]

Extra-hard sequel

1. Who is Peter Costello?

2. In what state would you find the Puckapunyal military base?

3. Name two of the three states that held significant gold rushes.

4. Where is the Nullabor?

5. What does the name mean?

6. Palmerston is the former name of which state or territorial capital?

7. Captain Cook's Cottage is in which state?

8. There are two "National Galleries" in Australia-one in Canberra, and one in which Australian state or territorial capital?

9. What is the name of the primary sporting ground in Brisbane?

10. Who is Libby Lenton?

11. Who was the first Australian astronaut?

12. What state is Prime Minister John Howard from?

13. Name one member of the federal Australian Labor Party parliamentary caucus. (half point)
Name one member of the Australian upper house, the Senate (half point)

14. What is the name of the river that flows into Sydney Harbour?

15. What state is Whyalla in? (half point)
What state is Burnie in? (half point)

Bonus point-Perth, Sydney and Melbourne all have a suburb by the name of what?

[Platypus]

Peter Costello is the Federal Treasurer, and deputy leader of the Liberal Party-but not Deputy PM, that riole goes to the leader iof the National Party (Mark Vaile)

Puckapunyal is in Northeastern Victoria

VIC, WA and NSW all held gold rushes, but the biggetst were VIC and WA.

The National Gallery of Victoria has a name from colonial days. Melbourne is the answer

Despite never visiting Victoria, Captain Cook's Cottage can be found in central Melbourne.

Palmerston once reffered to the city of Darwin as a whole, when Darwin was a suburb; now Darwin is the name of the city as a whole and Palmerston is a suburb/satellite city.

The Nullabor stretches acroos the top of the great Australian Bight, from SA through to WA, and the name means 'No trees'.

The Gabba is the premier sporting ground of Brisbane.

Libby Lenton is a very good aussie swimmer, who between herself, Alice Mills and Jodie Henry, also Australians, have broken the women's 100m world record in freestyle multiple times.

Andy Thomas, although he's probably a US citizen now

NSW, and indeed, Bennelong.

www.aph.gov.au has the answers. Kim Beazley and Wayne Swan are both right, ditto Kay Patterson and John Faulkner. I've never heard of Paul Calvert, but hey, he might be . Col, how the hell do you know who Kay Patterson is?

Parramatta River

Whyalla is in SA; Burnie in Tasmania.

Bonus point: Epping. Although the Perth suburb recently changed it's name to something aboriginal, iirc.

[Platypus]

congrats, btw.

5th test...here we come. It was actually pretty close in the end.

[Platypus]

well, we've held them for my whole lifetime, so maybe it is time for a change. 2 years is all right.

Either way, there is no chancwe England will win them nex time around, in Australia.

[Platypus]

Third time lucky

1. In which city would you find the satellite city of Tuggeranong?
a) Melbourne
b) Perth
c) Brisbane
d) Canberra

2. Name four Australian Universities (three will get you half a point)

3. Headline: "Brogden in trouble over racist slur". Who is 'Brogden'?

4. Who, what or where is "Lord Howe"?

5. Complete this aussie saying: "Off like a bucket of prawns..."

6. Who is Steve Bracks?

7. The Opals are which Australian sporting team?

8. Which city and state are former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins, from?

9. Which country receivesthe most annual aid from Australia?

10. name one australian musician/band with a top 10 hit in the past year (in Australia)

11. In which state would you find these federal lower house seats: Capricornia and Ryan.

12. Who won Australia's only medal in the Montreal games?

13. How many medals did Australia win in Athens (half point if within 3)?

14. What is a 'pav'?

15. If I said "Head up Bay street, take a right at City Road, left into Queensbridge Street, over the bridge, right into Flinders Street and hop off outside the station", which city would I be giving directions in?

Bonus point: How many points is a goal worth in aussie rules; how many points if it hits the post; how many points if it goes through the smaller poles on either side of the goal; how many points if it hits a lower post, and how many points if it goes in off a defender?

[Platypus]

my questions probably werent that good this time. For example, there are at least two answers to the "Lord Howe" question, but when most Aussies say "Lord Howe", they have a specific meaning and that's what i'll be giving full points for.

[Platypus]

8.5 for Colin.

[Platypus]

emsworth, re-read the bonus point question, you were close but i think you accidentally missed something central to the answer...

Otherwise, 2.5 points.

[Platypus]

JFK and Blerpiez each get 4.

[Platypus]

Well I suppose I should provide the answers

1. In which city would you find the satellite city of Tuggeranong?
Canberra

2. Name four Australian Universities (three will get you half a point)
Edith Cowan, Uni of WA, Adelaide, ANU, Melbourne, Deakin, Monash, LaTrobe, UTAS, UNSW, Sydney, Western Sydney, New England, Queensland, Swinburne, QUT, RMIT....there's quite a few.

3. Headline: "Brogden in trouble over racist slur". Who is 'Brogden'?
Former leader of the NSW Liberals in their state parliament; got in a lot of trouble for calling Bob Carr's wife a mail order bride; resigned as leader of the opposition and shortly afterwards attempted suicide.

4. Who, what or where is "Lord Howe"?
This was probably too hard a question. Most Australians would mean Lord Howe Island when they said Lord Howe; it is a stunningly beautiful island off the NSW coast.

5. Complete this aussie saying: "Off like a bucket of prawns..."
"...in the sun"

6. Who is Steve Bracks?
Premier of the state of Victoria

7. The Opals are which Australian sporting team?
Women's Basketball

8. Which city and state are former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins, from?
Newcastle, New South Wales

9. Which country receivesthe most annual aid from Australia?
Papua New Guinea, which gets about 1/3 of our aid, which makes up about 1/3 of their annual income.

10. name one australian musician/band with a top 10 hit in the past year (in Australia)
Multiple answers. Kylie Minogue was correct.

11. In which state would you find these federal lower house seats: Capricornia and Ryan.
Queensland

12. Who won Australia's only medal in the Montreal games?
Shane Gould

13. How many medals did Australia win in Athens (half point if within 3)?
49

14. What is a 'pav'?
Pavlova, a desert cake.

15. If I said "Head up Bay street, take a right at City Road, left into Queensbridge Street, over the bridge, right into Flinders Street and hop off outside the station", which city would I be giving directions in?
Melbourne.

Bonus point: How many points is a goal worth in aussie rules; how many points if it hits the post; how many points if it goes through the smaller poles on either side of the goal; how many points if it hits a lower post, and how many points if it goes in off a defender?

Goal: Six points
The rest: One point, except if it hits an outer post, in which case it is zero