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The Forum > General Discussion > Australia Still Tied To Britain?

Australia Still Tied To Britain?

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It was a tongue in cheek reference Banjo to the Spanish armada, particularly as during my naval training we studied it. Considered opinion is that the British fleet did very little worthwhile damage to the Spanish ships, most of their problems were with incredibly poor leadership, & a couple of opportune storms.

This has a familiar feel, when you look at some of our recent top brass.
Posted by Hasbeen, Friday, 2 July 2021 3:05:23 AM
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Thanks Hassy and Issy for a bit of history on Churchill and Mannix. Very true.

Ah! Foxy the old Irish priests and nuns. I can still remember Sister Mary, god rest her soul. a decrepit Irish nun, who came to Australia in the early days of the 1900's, chase and virginal till her death, something she regretted till her dying days I'm sure, just as she missed Ireland. She told us children we Catholics were bound to go to heaven, be with the saints and all the angles. BUT! not those heathens, especially the godless devils of the Church of England, PROTESTANTS were beyond salvation and would feel the rath of the every lasting fires of Hell. As long as we loved Jesus and the Holy Father in Rome salvation was ours. Sister Mary was not big on forgiveness, but she did very much believe in "spare the rod and spoil the child" and put her strap to work on many an occasion, on my hand and legs.

Reading David Kemp's, 'A Liberal State' at the moment, which given an account of the Menzies years 1926-1966 in Australian politics Kemp being a liberal politician (Liberal party federal MP), I wouldn't call him a conservative, although a great admirer of Menzies, he does paint Menzies in a very favourable light. Kemp's insights into the Australian political ethos of the time is fascinating.

Just on Menzies, he was a monarchists and a conservative and did much to hold Australia back, in my opinion, failing to build on the earlier post war work of Chiefly an allowing the country to realise its full potential.

Just as a side did you know Menzies in 1966 wanted to call the new Australian currency "ROYALS" not dollars, 100 cents to the Royal, Big Mac today would cost 5 Royals, what a joke. AND Menzies on the Queen; "There is a Lady Sweet and Kind: I did but see her passing by, And yet I love her till I die." The words were penned by Thomas Ford, but 'Pig Iron' Bob liked them as well.
Posted by Paul1405, Friday, 2 July 2021 6:08:50 AM
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Hi Foxy,

Just on your question, and todays young Australians. In my family I can't find any affinity from those under 40 for Britain. I suspect that is the general attitude of both young Australians and Australians from a multicultural background and some older Australians like me. Other than for a few old glue pots I don't think many Australian get up in the mornings and sing 'Rule Britannia' or "God Save the Queen", maybe a few from this forum do, but not the majority.

My 15 year old granddaughters comment was like; "Maybe we were all for that kind of stuff in the olden days, like before 2010, but not today."
Posted by Paul1405, Friday, 2 July 2021 6:24:56 AM
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Dear Paul,

I remember Father Tim Kennedy and Sister Mary Virgilius
so well growing up during my school days in the
Western suburbs of Sydney. I remember my mum's admiration
for Queen Elizabeth and mum wanting to live to 100 so
that she could get a letter from the Queen. Mum didn't
make it - she lived to 96. I guess Britain has a special
place in more than our history. We still share a head
of state and with more than 12 million Aussies having
been born in the UK - our country hosts the largest
number of British expatriates.

The ties remain strong but perhaps they're weaker than
they were. And like any long term relationship they
continue to change and develop.

I think that Brexit further amplified the case that
Australia's future lies not in our established ties with
the UK but in strengthening the new economic, diplomatic,
and political relationships in our own region.

We've got China already accounting for more than a quarter
of our exports. We've got a free trade agreement with
Indonesia - so clearly these are relationships that our
country needs to focus on and develop to enhance our
economy and position in the world.

We rely on the US for our defence. Our population mix has
changed and continues to change greatly.
What the future hold - who knows - but it
certainly won't be the same as it once was.
That's for sure.
Posted by Foxy, Friday, 2 July 2021 10:15:50 AM
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Thanks to everyone for giving us such great histories.
I loved reading all your posts. They are deeply appreciated.
And we learn so much from them.
My days would be so dull without the forum.
Thank You.
Posted by Foxy, Friday, 2 July 2021 10:20:43 AM
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Australia should tighten ties with as many Nations who will have the patience to wait for our drug problem to ease !
Posted by individual, Saturday, 3 July 2021 6:38:20 AM
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