After seven years in Australia I thought I’d write a little list of sometimes silly observations that you might not know about Awesome Australia.
1. Ducks sit sixty feet up in gum trees. Or in people’s pools.
2. Fairdinkum is overheard more than you would think. In fact my brother heard it on his first week in Aus. I think it’s a polite way of saying wtf! Every foreigner melts when we hear it in real life having grown up with our ‘Neighbours’.
3. Afternoon tea is a daily occurrence and if you have kids at school you will be invited to have ‘afternoon tea’ which is basically a play date. When first invited I thought my pal was taking the piss out of me being English. Morning tea is also a thing.
4. Snakes are even in the suburbs and sightings on the local fb groups are often posted. In fact one yesterday was seen at the reserve where I walk my dog. I reckon if you stay away from them, they stay away from you! Walk with purpose!
5. Poisonous spiders are also everywhere, however as they don’t kill you, you get used to them. At my place they live in the log pile, red backs. Even the huge huntsman you start to name as they stay in your house for the rainy days, they can be as big as your hand but like all these things, they are generally more scared of you.
6. Kookaburra’s do sit on the telephone wire but also sound like monkeys at night as they cackle together.
7. Shark sightings are also posted on local fb groups, not many in Melbourne, only a few in the last seven years. Lots of dolphins that I’ve seen though!
8. Driving is very different. No one gives way if you are coming out of a junction and turning right. Also Right turns at traffic lights sometimes require you to hover in the middle of the oncoming traffic until you can go.
9. Supermarkets pack your shopping for you, yes even if you take your own bags. (Apart from Aldi).
10. ALL schools require fees.
11. To say Australian women wear the trousers is an understatement but it’s great to see!
12. There are local tv adverts which are hilarious.
13. Snow season is June-August in Victoria and requires a trip to the Alpine regions. You drive to the top of huge mountains with black fire burnt gum trees covered in snow, it’s an unusual sight.
14. Everyone knows someone who has escaped a bush fire. The 2020 fires in Victoria where the worst I’ve seen. Thank goodness for the CFA who are volunteer based! I also know a guy who escaped Black Sunday his story is amazing, perhaps another blog!
15. The highest temperature I’ve recorded here is 52 degrees C, aircon on and don’t go outside!
16. Drinks in pubs are far more expensive in Australia than the UK and many restaurants are BYO.
17. A Dr’s appointment is about $40. If you don’t have ambulance cover (which most people do) an ambulance call out is around $3k.
18. When going for a bbq at a friends take a plate of food and bringing your own esky full of ‘grog’ is a common occurrence.
19. Having a glass of wine in the park whilst the kids play is also very acceptable.
20. There are two kinds of crazy winds that we experience in Victoria, the arctic blasts which chill you to the bone in winter and the hot North winds coming down from the red centre that make you melt in summer.
Well I think that’s about it until next time, if you have any questions about Awesome Australia please drop me a line frankiebanks27@gmail.com
To read about my other experiences in Australia please click on and read from these posts…Fifth Christmas in Australia, The Lucky Country, A day at The Victoria State Library, Kakadu (Gagudju) National Park, Darwin Flight, Skinny Dip