G'day!

[Rhinosaur]

Hello from Australia. Many aussies here???

Nice to meet you all. Where's the coffee?

[retdetsgt]

Welcome! There's a few, haven't seen any in a several days though. The rest of us are fairly well housebroke though.

[marinepilot]

Welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle!

[greg72982]

We try to keep the Aussies here on a short leash as they tend to get out of hand...

[mcsap]

The Aussies here type and talk funny so we don't let them out too much

[Gumtree]

G'day & Welcome Mate......

We try to keep the Aussies here on a short leash as they tend to get out of hand...

who me?

The Aussies here type and talk funny so we don't let them out too much

Fairdinkum????

[Chef_Au]

One of the token Victorians here, there are a few of us lurking around, all those the US guys are a tad strange and the water in their toilet goes the wrong way when you flush!!!

[canuckofapeach]

I only moved here and will not eff off and go back where I came from, thankyouverymuch.

[oscarmitre]

I only moved here and will not eff off and go back where I came from, thankyouverymuch.

Sssssh Peach - Shame that, a vocal minority that makes us look like a bunch of uncouth goons.

[retdetsgt]

Sssssh Peach - Shame that, a vocal minority that makes us look like a bunch of uncouth goons.

They must of all been in the Aussie Army in Vietnam during the 60's. I'm glad because they were a hell of a lot of fun!

[oscarmitre]

Ah the changes in Australian society since the end of our involvement in the Vietnam War! In many ways we were a very naieve nation back then and you know I think I prefer that to the tired cynicism that infects us now. Back then we admired quiet patriotism. Even though for some years it was de rigeur to put down the importance of Anzac Day it has always had a place in our national mythology, even if perspectives were altered due to other influences - The One Day Of The Year, STC - smh.com.au

That quiet patriotism has, in recent years, been swamped by a very loud and I think (hope) largely unwelcome nationalism that makes us look pretty bad - 2005 Cronulla riots - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/...oops-facebook/

Unwelcome, unlike us (really) and destructive to our national character. Sorry to drift the thread onto dangerous reefs but I wish that attitude would die out.

Many of our soldiers in Vietnam were on National Service, ordinary people who suddenly found themselves fighting an unpopular war, they acquitted themselves well and brought with them that national spirit for which Australians have historically been admired. I doubt if one of those present wearing the Southern Cross on clothing or parts of their body on that day at Cronulla would have the guts to do what those nineteen-year olds did when they were told to put on the jungle greens and head to the Asian war. All mouth and trousers when it comes to insulting immigrants but they go to water in the face of real opposition.

[retdetsgt]

I think too, back then the people I was around were raised by men and women who lived under the real threat of invasion by Japan. That was a real possibility for a time.