Where are you from?
Carina Cowan, mother-of-two, from Paraburdoo: “I was born in Paraburdoo, a town located in the outback. It’s 1,500 kilometres north of Perth, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Paraburdoo was developed in the early 1970s to support the local iron mines.”
When will you return?
Tharshan Wijey, Director at Amanat Holdings, from Sydney: “My wife and I love to travel and discover new places — we met on Mount Everest. We would like to show our daughter, Lydia, a bit more of the world before heading home.”
What stereotypes about Australians are true?
Kate Doherty, stay-at-home mum, from Melbourne: “Living abroad, I often get asked if I call women ‘Sheilas’ or regularly ‘throw another shrimp on the barbie’! A typical Australian doesn’t speak like this. But we do wrestle crocodiles!”
How would you describe the Australian cultural identity?
Laura Mooney, Legal Support Supervisor, from Sydney: “Australians are friendly, resourceful, generous and real. No pretences and no need for a class system like elsewhere. We take no nonsense and are laid back, honest, hard-working and fun-loving.”
What’s your favourite Australian food?
Janet Bryan, Australia and New Zealand Cultural Coordinator, from Sydney: “Lamb, it has to be lamb. It’s the most delicious food in the world. In winter I like it done as a roast whole shoulder, which takes many, many hours to cook. In summer, because you have the tender cuts of spring lamb, I prefer lamb chops.”
What’s unique about Australia?
Ian Wright, Partner in a legal firm, from Sydney: “I like the way Australia has absorbed immigrants of diverse backgrounds and turned it into many positives for the country. It’s quite unique insofar as it is a multicultural society where the majority of immigrants have integrated into the common culture.”
What attractions are not to be missed?
Kerrie Hawkins, Senior Planner in Customer Loyalty, from Canberra: Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The surrounds are lovely and the harbour views are amazing. Take a ferry there on a nice sunny day, but don’t forget sunscreen. Or there are the Blue Mountains in winter, when the valleys are covered in fog.
What does the future hold for Australia?
Brad Thompson, Health and Safety Consultant, from Sydney: “The country is one of incredible diversity and it will become even more of a mixed culture. Australia needs to grow. We’re growing quite rapidly and we can only do that through immigration. We have the highest rate of inward migration per capita in the world and I think that will trend upwards over time, so I think the future is one where we will become a superpower through immigration.”
