For starters, who’s going to take notice of someone who proudly admits to killing thousands of brain cells with cheap plonk.

“Alcohol is invariably involved”

What a moron!

Audrey has correctly identified over-consumption of alcohol as being a notable feature of life in Australia. Of course there are individual exceptions, but the figures about per-capita booze consumption don't lie, and ours is amongst the highest in the world, if not the highest.

By Leigh's definition, this would make Australians all "morons" - but as HRS is here to remind us, if Leigh doesn't like the place, he can always leave.

Oh, HRS, I keep meaning to ask you - what do you think of the theory that boys are made of slime and snails?

BTW, if you're ever stuck trying to explain the Australian sense of humour to anybody, you should tell them about the Harold Holt memorial swimming pool in Melbourne's suburb of Malvern...

I love Australia and have no intention of leaving. However, throughout my life I have had it made to clear to me that I am not really True Blue, for the following reasons:

I am a woman
I am not married and do not have children
I don't drink alcohol of any description (especially beer)
I don't eat meat of any description
I am an atheist

When this country can accept all of the above, and many more things, as normal and part of a healthy diversity, then we will all be better off.
But what the hell, I will still have heaps of fun on Australia Day. I just won't be getting rat-arsed.

If you wish to stop HRS being boring don't indulge him and 'Bite'.

You give children attention for positive behaviour, and ignore bad behaviour.

I'm sure the French don't all like to wear Berets and ride bicycles with Baguettes in a basket either. Who cares, this is such a non-issue.

Apart from Little Johnny's nationalistic abuse of Un-Australian to silence dissent. But he's gone now.

As for Mateship. I always thought it was funny that only Australians had friends, or that Australian friends were closer than friends of other nationalities, but Audrey neglects to mention girls call each other mates as well. That really surprises me Audrey turning something into a feminist issue.

' is constructed to exclude women'. Ah I remember those secret meetings of the patriarchy conviened to contrive words to exclude the women.

And being a 'mere male' I cant really see the jibes at Helen Clarke as being an attempt to denigrate her achievements 'as a woman'.

I think most people's objections (apart from feminist Audrey) to do with the stereotyped Australian are really to do with class (i.e. Bogan hating), rather than being excluded from some 'National Identity'.

We don't need to define an identity. We have one. The stereotype is different to the Identity. Our Identity isn't threatened by stereotypes any more than any other country. It's only the people who confuse the two or have a political motivation to deliberately confuse the two to make a point (Audrey included) that have this need to define Australia or Australian Values.