We’ve all found ourselves stumped by the question at one point or another; whether it be asked by an overseas relative, an international student at school, or even a fellow Aussie. Our minds fall blank when we are forced to consider “what it truly means to be Australian”.
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To this day, I still can’t find a better response than eating meat pies and watching the footy; neither of which I do, making me fully regret the shamefully small amount of time I spend appreciating Australia’s vast and fascinating culture.
What’s more, is that living in a place with as much cultural history and diversity as Ballarat, there is no excuse for a lack of knowledge on the Australian lifestyle and no reason to remain ignorant to the significant events that have shaped Australia’s past and present.
So, for anybody else who relies upon comedic Australian slurs and marsupials to sufficiently describe our culture, here are some easy examples of how to incorporate a few more meaningful Australian customs into your daily life, and embrace the true value behind being an Australian.
1) Visit the tourist attractions in Ballarat
While I am sure any local can’t count the number of times they have been to Sovereign Hill on one hand, it is important to remember that our interests change as we do.
As senior school students, trips to our all-time-favourite Ballarat attractions will hopefully teach us much more about Ballarat’s part in Australian history than they did in our primary school years, when, we must admit, we were only really interested in the raspberry drops.
From the Eureka Centre to the Ballarat Wildlife Park, Ballarat is home to many tourist attractions that, even as locals, will benefit our knowledge of Australia tremendously.
2) Become involved in Ballarat’s multicultural events
We’ve all been told that teaching is the best way to learn and who better to teach than people from other parts of the world?
Ballarat’s multiculturalism plays a large role in making our city what it is and attending events such as the Rock the Block; culture festival, or hosting exchange students for a short amount of time.
These are easy ways to explore the meaning of Australian pride, as well as gaining a bit more worldly knowledge on the way!
3) Engage in the Aussie music scene
Ballarat’s involvement with young musicians is phenomenal, expressing remarkable talent for a regional township.
The music Ballarat creates and our performers have always been a way of not only expressing emotion, but the unspoken parts of our culture. So, why not grab together a few friends and find your way down to Ballarat’s next live gig?
4) Learn more about our aboriginal community and their history
Ballarat is home to not only a unique indigenous history, but has many indigenous Australian community members willing to share their inspirational stories.
Engaging in conversations, with Aboriginal elders or youths, or presentations involving the experiences of indigenous Australians may not only open up your mind to one of the world’s oldest cultures, but introduce you to an important part of our community.
5) Spend time in the serene Australian bush
Beside the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outside, Australia’s natural environment is a large part of Australia’s culture.
Australia is praised for its immense amount of natural beauty, so what easier way to explore the subtle parts of your culture, than relaxing among the gum trees and wild flowers?
Be it bush-walking or singing, feeding wildlife or engaging in storytelling, I can assure you that after some simple time spent admiring Australia’s rich history and customs, you will definitely be upgrading your definition of “what it means to be Australian”.