We have Gough to thank for the current anthem, the 4 choices were sung at schools throughout the year leading up to the decision, and by far the most popular was 'Waltzing Matilda'. But once again the popular vote was turned over for the most jingoistic and hence we now sing Advance Australia - Backwards. So much for 'democracy'.

Well may we say... "Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars" because nothing has saved Holden cars, meat pies are now a hollow remnant of what they once were, and football (whatever code you follow) is full of over-paid drug addicts. The only thing left is poor old Skippy, laying at the side of the Pacific Highway after being clobbered by a Toyota Lancruiser saying..."Oh what a feeling...! "

Those Holden cars and the Chrysler Valiants are still out there in the midden heaps where old cars are dumped when they run out of oil. Sacred sites of the future? With those glistening broken bottles with the blue or green labels to light the way.

Question: Is Julie Anthony the only person in Australia who actually knows the words of Advance Australia Fair, or could her cue cards be made available to all present when she sings, so their lips might go closer to moving in unison?

I will not ask if Julie A is the only person who can sing it. The answer is obvious. Although even her delightful, trained voice cannot soften the harshness of 'girt' and 'toil'.

Christianity itself is a selective plagiarism of just about every religion to be found in the Mediterranian/Middle Eastern regions from earliest times

Extropian1

great to be so ignorant and blind

We've sung this as a third verse in our churches:

With Christ our head and cornerstone,
We'll build our Nation's might.
Whose way and truth and light alone
Can guide our path aright.
Our lives, a sacrifice of love
Reflect our Master's care.
With faces turned to heaven above
Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair!

Max, if you want to limit the freedoms of Aussies to sing whatever lyrics we want, you can just shove it up your jumper. I've never read an article on OLO so miserly and mean spirited.

Albie,
I agree wih you that we were railroaded by the pollies of the day into accepting Advance Australia Fair. I think most people would have preferred Waltzing Matilda as the new anthem.