Beginner's Guide to Australia

Western Australia - The People and the Culture Overview

2006-08-11T20:25:19Z

Western Australia has a positively unique culture: heritage, education, sports, slang... the whole shebang! The people come from many different ethnicities and backgrounds and have lived Western Australia for different timeframes (some having been born there and some foreign-born). However, each helps to make up the intricacies of Western Australian culture. The capital of Western Australia, Perth, is even one of top multi-cultural cities in all of Australia.

There are many aspects of society that make up the distinctive culture in WA. Three of those pieces are the educational system (which is still being revised to help educate Western Australians to an even higher degree), the people's love of sports (which is immense!), and the fun way that Western Australians speak (the dialect or slang that they use). Learn a little more about all of these in these articles.

Where did Western Australians come from?

2006-08-11T20:26:13Z

So where did the people of Western Australia come from? There are many ways to answer this question, and each shows the diversity of the people's past. Originally, the only group that outnumbered the British settlers who were moving to Swan River Colony (and those after the original settlers who continued to come to WA) was the other Australians moving into Western Australia. However, significant immigration from New Zealand and South Africa over the years, as well as smaller numbers of people moving from Southeast Asia and other countries, has reduced the percentage of native Australians to 1.5% of the entire population.

Western Australia was the last area of the country to accept convicts (a common practice in the 1800s), so Russian natives from England arrived in only Western Australia. Western Australia, and not her sister states, also received migrants from other countries such as Italy. The war also contributed to the Western Australian melting pot: immigrants from Yugoslavia, Greece, Russia, and other European nations moved to Australia after World War II. Then in the '70s Asian immigrants from China and Vietnam began to arrive, and later, a significant number of Japanese nationals moved to the state. In recent years, Western Australia has had a higher percentage of migration into the nation from overseas than any other area of the country.

The population in Western Australia, as can be seen from this brief history of their ethnic past, is extremely diverse. And there is probably no place in the state that this diversity can be witnessed better than in the capital and multi-cultural center of Western Australia - Perth, which has become a home to people from most countries of the world. At the present, Western Australia boasts the highest ratio of overseas born citizens in all of Australia.

How is education part of Western Australian culture?

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The educational system in Western Australia is a piece of the people's culture that has continued to develop over the years. As of several years ago, the educational system looked something like this for a student:

• One year of pre-school when you're five years old.
• Seven years of primary school (through age 12).
• Five years of secondary education, with the last two being optional.
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In the past 2 years, however, educational standards have tightened up to require that all students complete the year in which they turn 16 (typically year 11). However, the final two years (11 and 12) are on their way to being required, with a new law - commencing in 2008 - mandating that all students complete 12 years of school before leaving. However, students will be able to choose to study at their traditional school or to continue with a vocational course or seek University entrance.

Western Australia has several universities, the most prominent of which are:

• University of Western Australia
• Edith Cowan University
• Curtin University
• Murdoch University
• University of Notre Dame

Do the Western Australian's like sports?

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Sports are very popular in Western Australia, and so most sporting events are available in the state. In fact, some people have called Australia the "outdoor activity capital of the world," certainly supported by the wide range of activities seen in Western Australia throughout the year. The state puts on a spectacular exhibit of sporting talent for all to see. Here are a few of the national and international teams and events that can be found in Western Australia:

• Team: West Coast Eagles (Australian Football League)
• Team: Fremantle Football Club (Australian Football League)
• Team: Retravision Western Warriors (Western Australia cricket)
• Team: Perth Glory (A-League football/soccer)
• Team: Western Force (Super 14 rugby union)
• Team: Perth Wildcats (National Basketball League)
• Event: Australian Rules Football - based in Perth
• Event: The Perth Cup (horse racing)
• Event: Hopman Cup (mixed tennis tournament)
• Event: an international golf tournament (varies from year to year)

Western Australia Slang - What does it mean?

2006-08-11T20:27:29Z

G'day, Mate! Who hasn't heard that greeting (spoken with an Assie accent, of course) and commented on how endearing the culture of the Australian language is? Western Australia is a unique locale, with people and a culture unlike anywhere else in the world, an exciting place to visit and a great place to live! People speak in what we call English, and yet the unsuspecting visitor may find himself listening to the dialect and finding it impossibly to understand what he thought was his own language! Western Australians speak with a slang that is sometimes recognizable (as other places across the world have picked up the words) and sometimes hilariously perplexing; this is just part of what makes the Western Australian people and culture so distinct.

Here are some of the typical "translations:"
• Bities: biting insects
• Bitzer: mongrel dog
• Boomer: large male kangaroo
• Brumby: wild horse
• Chook: chicken
• Jumbuck: sheep
• Mozzie: mosquito
• Aussie salute: brushing away flies with the hand
• Barrack: to cheer on
• Big-note oneself: brag, boast
• Blue: fight/argue
• Bog in: commence eating
• Captain Cook: look ("let's have a Captain Cook")
• Dob in: to tell on somebody
• Dummy, spit the: get very upset at something
• Earbashing: nagging
• Flat out: busy
• Flick it on: to sell something soon after buying it
• Fossicking: search / rummage
• Get up somebody: to rebuke somebody
• Gobful, give a: to abuse verbally
• Pommy shower: using deodorant instead of taking a shower
• Rack off: get lost!
• Shankys's pony: to travel on foot
• Shoot through: to leave
• Sickie, throw a: have a day off due to illness
• Skite: boast, brag
• Squizz: to look
• Waggin' school: playing truant
• Walkabout: wander off
• Yabber: talk a lot
• Yakka: work (noun)
• Bathers: swimming costume
• Bush telly: campfire
• Chewie: chewing gum
• Chokkie: chocolate
• Chunder: vomit
• Clobber: clothes
• Daks: trousers
• Dunny: outside lavatory
• Port: suitcase
• Rego: vehicle registration
• Sanger: a sandwich
• Sunnies: sunglasses
• Thongs: flip flops
• Tucker: food
• Ute: utility vehicle
• Ankle biter: small child
• Aussie: Australian
• Battler: a hard worker only just making a living
• Beaut/beauty: fantastic
• Blokey: behaving 'manly'
• Blow in: stranger
• Bounce: a bully
• Clayton's: fake, substitute
• Cobber: friend
• Cook: one's wife
• Dill: an idiot
• Figjam: Someone who has a high opinion of themselves
• Hoon: hooligan
• Mug: gullible person
• Sheila: a woman
• Stickybeak: nosy person
• Woos: coward
• Wombat: a person who eats, roots and leaves
• Bush: outback
• Maccas: McDonald's

Western Australia - A One to Three Day Itinerary Overview

2006-08-11T20:27:57Z

A trip to Western Australia, even for only a few days, is an opportunity of a lifetime. So if you or your family is going to be vacationing there, making the most of it by filling your itinerary with the most exciting things! Here are some fabulous options for you to help you make this trip unforgettable:

• Learning the Western Australian slang
• Experiencing the popular sports
• Taking day tours in Perth - the capital
• Following the Western Australia tips for travel

Learning the Western Australian Slang

2006-08-11T20:28:53Z

G'day, Mate! Who hasn't heard that greeting (spoken with an Assie accent, of course) and commented on how endearing the culture of the Australian language is? Western Australia is a unique locale, with people and a culture unlike anywhere else in the world, an exciting place to visit and a great place to live! People speak in what we call English, and yet the unsuspecting visitor may find himself listening to the dialect and finding it impossibly to understand what he thought was his own language! Western Australians speak with a slang that is sometimes recognizable (as other places across the world have picked up the words) and sometimes hilariously perplexing. As a traveler, learning to understand and speak a little Aussie slang will be not only fun but also quite useful! Either prep for your one to three day vacation by learning the lingo, or do a little "field research" and hear these terms being used by the locals.

Here are some of the typical "translations:"
• Bities: biting insects
• Mozzie: mosquito
• Aussie salute: brushing away flies with the hand
• Barrack: to cheer on
• Big-note oneself: brag, boast
• Blue: fight/argue
• Bog in: commence eating
• Captain Cook: look ("let's have a Captain Cook")
• Earbashing: nagging
• Flat out: busy
• Flick it on: to sell something soon after buying it
• Fossicking: rummage
• Get up somebody: to rebuke somebody
• Gobful, give a: to abuse verbally
• Rack off: get lost!
• Shankys's pony: to travel on foot
• Shoot through: to leave
• Sickie, throw a: have a day off due to illness
• Skite: boast, brag
• Squizz: to look
• Waggin' school: playing truant
• Yakka: work (noun)
• Bush telly: campfire
• Chewie: chewing gum
• Chunder: vomit
• Clobber: clothes
• Daks: trousers
• Dunny: outside lavatory
• Port: suitcase
• Tucker: food
• Ute: utility vehicle
• Ankle biter: small child
• Battler: a hard worker only just making a living
• Blow in: stranger
• Clayton's: fake, substitute
• Cobber: friend
• Cook: one's wife
• Dill: an idiot
• Figjam: Someone who has a high opinion of themselves
• Hoon: hooligan
• Mug: gullible person
• Sheila: a woman
• Stickybeak: nosy person
• Woos: coward
• Wombat: a person who eats, roots and leaves
• Bush: outback
• Maccas: McDonald's

Sports - A Western Australia Favorite!

2006-08-11T20:29:23Z

Sports in Western Australia are extremely popular, probably one of the reasons that some people call the area the "outdoor activity capital of the world." Because of the different climates the state experiences, a wide range of professional sports are played and viewed, and a huge selection of personal recreational sports are also available. If you're visiting Western Australia for a few days and are looking for something to do, you can check out some of these pro teams and events that take place.

Or you can get involved in your own active fun with these local favorites:

• Surfing. This is the most obvious Western Australian sport. Perfect for locals and tourists, experienced surfers and novices, there are many opportunities to enjoy the waves. If you're good and own a wetsuit, you can surf all year round.
• Swimming. Whether you want to frequent a nice pool or one of Western Australia's spectacular beaches, this is a great way to get some exercise and play in the water.
• Fishing. Western Australia offers excellent fishing opportunities, and it's extremely popular among locals and tourists. You can fish from the shore or on a boat, in the river or in the sea.
• Walking/Jogging/Cycling. Get out and in the open and experience Western Australia! Whether you're on a bike or just jogging through nature, you're sure to have a wonderful time!
• Skiing. The come of winter is an exciting time for local Western Australians and their visitors because of the incredible skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding that the state offers.

Day Tours in Perth, Western Australia

2006-08-11T20:30:01Z

If you're in Western Australia for a few days, a great way to see the state is to take a day tour - especially one in or around the capital city, Perth. Here are examples of some of the tours offered:

• Travel through Perth on a double-decker (open top) bus, and see all of the major sights around the city. You'll be able to get out and check out the big stuff as well as listen to a learned tour guide give you the history and fun facts.
• Purchase a sightseeing pass, and travel through Perth and the surrounding areas at your own leisure - seeing things like the wine region, Wave Rock, the Valley of the Giants, and more.
• Experience what it's like to be a serious surfer on a surfing day trip. You'll have a trained coach to teach you how to surf and to provide you with the newest and best equipment to use.
• Walk across tree tops in the forest of giant Karri trees. You'll also be able to climb a fire watch tower that is built over a 60 meter tree. Wow!

Tips for Travel to Western Australia

2006-08-11T20:30:25Z

If you're going to be vacationing in Western Australia, it's good to follow a few tips before and during your one to three day itinerary. These will help you make the most of your trip to this incredible locale!

To do before you leave:

• Make sure you allow enough time to get your visa.
• Study up on where you're going, so you'll know your favorite options.
• Pack half as much as you think you need.
• Take an extra duffel to carry with you while you're there or to fill with new stuff on the way back.
• Keep your passport with you while you travel (and memorize the number if you can).
• Bring the addresses of anyone you might want to send postcards to.
• Take any old airport tags off your suitcases.
• Bring motion sickness pills if you think the plane trip might make you sick.
• Verify how many carry on bags and suitcases you can bring.
• Carry your toothbrush, clean underwear, and other essentials in your carry-on bag.
• Drink plenty of water while you travel.
• Change your watch to the new local time.
• Try to sleep during Western Australia's night to minimize your jet lag.

To do while you're in Western Australia:

• Be as alert as you can to watch for pickpockets.
• Don't make long distance calls from your room - it's expensive!
• If renting a car, get the insurance, and check it for any dents (or other problems) before you leave so that you won't be blamed for it.
• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip protection to ward off the fierce Australian sun.
• Check the water before going swimming or surfing.
• Plan a rough itinerary of the places you really want to go so that you make sure you don't accidentally miss anything.
• Buy a map while you're there if you'll be exploring on your own.
• Bring along a small first aid kit, Swiss army knife, wide brimmed hat, high SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, earplugs, headache medicine, lightweight jacket or poncho, comfy walking shoes, a camera, and anything else that will help make your trip stress-free and unforgettable!

Western Australia - A One Week Itinerary Overview

2006-08-11T20:30:54Z

A vacation to Western Australia will be unlike any other. And if you're spending about a week there, options abound as to what you can be involved in. So read up ahead of time and find out what interests you the most. Follow tips for traveling to Western Australia such as bringing heavy-duty sunscreen and a Swiss army knife, and then check out some of these favorite activities:

• Exciting Major Events in Western Australia
• Bird Watching Tours in Western Australia
• Taste Tests of the Western Australian Cuisine

Tips for Travel to Western Australia

2006-08-11T20:31:52Z

To do before you leave:

To do while you're in Western Australia:

Exciting Major Events in Western Australia

2006-08-11T20:32:20Z

Spectacular sporting events, art festivals, concerts, and other displays of talent take place in Western Australia every year. So it you're visiting for a week or more, check out what unique activities might be going on while you're in the state. You'll be sure to enjoy the Western Australian flavor that they'll add to your journey! Here are a few activities that go on throughout the year:

• Clipper Round The World Yacht Race - a competition unlike any other... incredibly fun!
• Multiplex Avon Descent - a unique Western Australia sporting event where teams in canoes, paddleboats, and other water crafts challenge the Avon and Swan rivers in a grueling 2-day contest.
• Spring in the Valley - a community festival with art, wine, food, music, and more.
• Ironman Western Australia - where 30,000 athletes compete to qualify for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
• Gravity Games H2O - a true use of gravity in this competition where contestants fight for 4 days to win the categories of wakeboarding, kiteboarding, and Thudercats freestyle powerboating.
• The Third 3 mobile Ashes Test Match, Cricket City Perth 2006 - when the city comes to life with cricket action.
• Aussies 2007 - happens on Scarborough Beach when 8,000 competitors come for the Australian Surf life Saving Championships take place.

Bird Watching Tours in Western Australia

2006-08-11T20:32:46Z

Because of all of the unique types of birds that Western Australia has, one of the top tourist (and local) pastimes is bird watching. However, it you're just in the state for a week vacation and aren't exactly sure what you're looking for or where to find it, a bird watching tour may be just what you need! With a professional ornithologist and authority on the birds of Western Australia, you'll be able to travel through the wild and gain incredible knowledge and experiences. Here are some examples of possible tours that you can purchase:

• This tour takes a maximum of 6 individuals or 10 if part of a group to see migratory birds throughout Western Australia in an air-conditioned 4WD. Short tours can be as limited as 3 hours, while tours for up to 14 days are also offered. In overnight trips, the group camps in the bush.
• This tour offers boat charters to follow the Western Australia coastline and visit the islands. The 8-day tours even visit the reefs.
• This tour is designed specifically for you. You pick the time and location, and how long you want to be gone for. A maximum of four people can go on the tour, and quality accommodations will be chosen for those who desire that style of overnight tour, while a tour to the Great Sandy Desert will involve a camp in the desert. For a short tour, you can choose to fly.
• This tour actually focuses on bird and other wildlife and is known for customizing private tours for those who know what they'd like to see. Trips range from half days to over four weeks.

Taste Tests of the Western Australian Cuisine

2006-08-11T20:33:09Z

There are many different types of Western Australian cuisine that you can enjoy while you're visiting the state, and since you'll be there a week, you'll have plenty of time to test different styles of foods and a variety of establishments. Whether you're looking for Chinese food or a sports bar and grill, it'll be there. Of course, there is a favorite - Seafood. There are seafood café's, international restaurants featuring seafood, and fine steak restaurants that will serve the fresh catch of the day on the side. Whatever style of food you're looking for, though, you're sure to find it in one of Western Australia's delectable dining options. Here are a few favorites:

• Friends Restaurant. Located in Perth, the Friends restaurant is an elegant dining establishment where you'll be able to order a fine wine with whatever you choose from the menu. They are known for their luscious cuisine and high standards of service.
• Sails Seafood Restaurant. This Fremantle restaurant offers menu combinations or selections a la carte and expertly combines their fresh seafood and fine wine with the gorgeous view of the Indian Ocean.
• Barocco Fine Mediterranean Cuisine. Visit this dining establishment in Northbridge for a meal, snack, or just a drink. Sit upstairs and enjoy the fresh local Black Mussels.
• Kailis' Fish Market Café. A fun place to dine, this establishment located in Fremantle actually looks and runs like a fish market, while serving classy seafood cuisine.
• Benny's Bar and Café. Enjoy live entertainment while you drink a cup of coffee, dine on some of the eclectic-type foods, or enjoy yourself in another way. This restaurant offers a relaxed and contemporary atmosphere.
• The Bridges. This Fremantle garden restaurant serves fresh seafood, steak, and pasta in the comfort of an enclosed and positively lovely ambiance.
• Vulcanoes Restaurant. With a breathtaking view of Hillarys Boat Barbour, this Perth restaurant offers a fabulous ambiance and delicious contemporary food. They even have children's menus.
• Joe's Fish Shack. Barramundi, mussels, crayfish, salmon are all fish that are taken fresh from the Western Australia water and served at the Joe's Fish Shack, a cute little Fremantle restaurant. You can also order carry-out.
• Fraser's Restaurant. Choose from locally grown vegetables and popular Australian wines while you dine in an intimate setting near the capital of Western Australia, Perth.
• C Restaurant Lounge. This Perth fine dining restaurant requires reservations and offers not only delectable foods but also spectacular views of the city and the ocean.