ng to most of the Australians I have spoken with the history of their own country is not exactly drilled into their brains throughout schooling years. The government is now making more of an effort to teach Australian history in schools especially with the population diversifying so rapidly. I have asked the names of the people portrayed on their money (by the way the bills here are made of plastic) and no one knows too many of them. So on my endless quest of curiosity and gathering of information only pertinent in pub quizzes I decided to find out what I could about these famous folks.The fiver is too easy. Australia is still part of the Commonwealth so a picture of Queen Eliz
abeth II is imperative. Just for those of you that don't know here are the basics on Liz. She was born April 21, 1926 and is one of the longest reigning monarchs in Britain's history. Elizabeth II is not only the queen of the United Kingdom but also of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. She married her second cousin Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) on November 20, 1947. Their marriage wasn't very popular with some of the other royals, surprisingly not because of the family connection but because Phillip was Greek Orthodox and had sisters who married Nazi supporters. Queen Elizabeth II has four children whom I am sure none of you have ever seen on the TV. The city outline of Canberra is on the other side of the five...of course the Queen shouldn't have to share a bill with anyone else.
abeth II is imperative. Just for those of you that don't know here are the basics on Liz. She was born April 21, 1926 and is one of the longest reigning monarchs in Britain's history. Elizabeth II is not only the queen of the United Kingdom but also of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. She married her second cousin Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) on November 20, 1947. Their marriage wasn't very popular with some of the other royals, surprisingly not because of the family connection but because Phillip was Greek Orthodox and had sisters who married Nazi supporters. Queen Elizabeth II has four children whom I am sure none of you have ever seen on the TV. The city outline of Canberra is on the other side of the five...of course the Queen shouldn't have to share a bill with anyone else. The 
Ten shows the likeness of A.B. "Banjo" Paterson, an ardent Australian nationalist and prolific bush poet. Born in New South Wales in 1864 he was the son of Scottish immigrants. He had many professions including war correspondent, jockey and farmer but is most famous for his poetry. In 1890 he published The Man From Snowy River about the colt of a prizewinning horse who goes off to live with the brumbies (aka wild horses) and the man who tries to capture him. The poem was representative of Australia as a unique and valued nation separate from Britain. In 1895 he wrote the poem Waltzing Matilda which was set to music a few years later and became possibly the most famous Australian song ever. (see Damper Bread and Billy Tea post for more info on song).
Ten shows the likeness of A.B. "Banjo" Paterson, an ardent Australian nationalist and prolific bush poet. Born in New South Wales in 1864 he was the son of Scottish immigrants. He had many professions including war correspondent, jockey and farmer but is most famous for his poetry. In 1890 he published The Man From Snowy River about the colt of a prizewinning horse who goes off to live with the brumbies (aka wild horses) and the man who tries to capture him. The poem was representative of Australia as a unique and valued nation separate from Britain. In 1895 he wrote the poem Waltzing Matilda which was set to music a few years later and became possibly the most famous Australian song ever. (see Damper Bread and Billy Tea post for more info on song).On the other side of the tenner is Dame Mary Gilmore, another Australian poet best known f
or her tribute to the Australian people in No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest. Born in 1865, Mary became a major player in the labor movement going so far as to move to "New Australia" a Utopian socialist commune in Paraguay. The settlement failed, Mary returned to Australia with a family and published her first book of poems in 1910. Through her writing she lobbied for better treatment of children, women and Indigenous Australians. She was honored with a knighthood in 1937.
or her tribute to the Australian people in No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest. Born in 1865, Mary became a major player in the labor movement going so far as to move to "New Australia" a Utopian socialist commune in Paraguay. The settlement failed, Mary returned to Australia with a family and published her first book of poems in 1910. Through her writing she lobbied for better treatment of children, women and Indigenous Australians. She was honored with a knighthood in 1937.The
twenty dollar note shows Reverend John Flynn, a Presbyterian minister who was the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Born in 1880 he was raised near Melbourne and worked as a school teacher before becoming a minister. He began to set up hospitals in towns which were extremely isolated from other areas of Australia. With the help of a World War I fighter pilot he developed the idea for medical treatment accessed by airplane. He also helped to build many nursing homes and organized travelling ministers into the outback using the then novelty radio.
twenty dollar note shows Reverend John Flynn, a Presbyterian minister who was the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Born in 1880 he was raised near Melbourne and worked as a school teacher before becoming a minister. He began to set up hospitals in towns which were extremely isolated from other areas of Australia. With the help of a World War I fighter pilot he developed the idea for medical treatment accessed by airplane. He also helped to build many nursing homes and organized travelling ministers into the outback using the then novelty radio.On the other side of the twenty is Mary Reibey. Mary was born in 1777 in England. At ag
e thirteen Mary was arrested dressed as a boy, convicted for stealing a horse and shipped off to Australia for seven years labor. After working as a nurse maid she married and along with her husband and his business partner began a small import company. Business boomed but unfortunately for Mary both her husband and his partner died leaving her alone with seven children and the import operation. It turned out Mary had quite a head for business and mixed with a survivors spirit amassed a small fortune. She became a symbol for women entrepreneurs as well as a great philanthropist.
e thirteen Mary was arrested dressed as a boy, convicted for stealing a horse and shipped off to Australia for seven years labor. After working as a nurse maid she married and along with her husband and his business partner began a small import company. Business boomed but unfortunately for Mary both her husband and his partner died leaving her alone with seven children and the import operation. It turned out Mary had quite a head for business and mixed with a survivors spirit amassed a small fortune. She became a symbol for women entrepreneurs as well as a great philanthropist. Now for
the fifty...on one side is Edith Cowan the first woman elected as a representative in an Australian parliament. She was born in 1861 in Western Australia to a politically involved family. In 1894 she helped found the Karrakatta Club, a group where women "educated themselves for the kind of life they believed they ought to be able to take." Along with the Karrakatta club she helped in gaining women the right to vote in 1899. She sought to give aid to many groups such as poverty stricken children and prostitutes. She coordinated food and care for injured soldiers during World War I. In 1909 she co-founded the National Council of Women and in 1920 won a surprising victory for a seat in parliament. She remained involved in various social issues late into her life.
the fifty...on one side is Edith Cowan the first woman elected as a representative in an Australian parliament. She was born in 1861 in Western Australia to a politically involved family. In 1894 she helped found the Karrakatta Club, a group where women "educated themselves for the kind of life they believed they ought to be able to take." Along with the Karrakatta club she helped in gaining women the right to vote in 1899. She sought to give aid to many groups such as poverty stricken children and prostitutes. She coordinated food and care for injured soldiers during World War I. In 1909 she co-founded the National Council of Women and in 1920 won a surprising victory for a seat in parliament. She remained involved in various social issues late into her life.The fifty also shows David Unaipon, Aboriginal writer, minister and inventor. He was 
born in 1872 and is of the Ngarrindjeri people. He was the first Aboriginal person in Australia to have a book published. His two most famous books are Aboriginal Legends (1927) and Native Legends (1929). He is also nicknamed the Australian Leonardo (da Vinci) because of his ingenious inventions and mechanical ideas. He even worked on developing a type of helicopter based on the principles of the boomerang way before modern helicopters were around. On top of writing and inventing David worked very hard to better the existence of Aboriginal people. He lived most of his life in Adelaide and worked for the Aborigines Friends’ Association for a long time. With his job he travelled around a lot of south-eastern Australia, giving lectures and sermons and sharing Aboriginal legends and culture with anyone who wanted to listen.
born in 1872 and is of the Ngarrindjeri people. He was the first Aboriginal person in Australia to have a book published. His two most famous books are Aboriginal Legends (1927) and Native Legends (1929). He is also nicknamed the Australian Leonardo (da Vinci) because of his ingenious inventions and mechanical ideas. He even worked on developing a type of helicopter based on the principles of the boomerang way before modern helicopters were around. On top of writing and inventing David worked very hard to better the existence of Aboriginal people. He lived most of his life in Adelaide and worked for the Aborigines Friends’ Association for a long time. With his job he travelled around a lot of south-eastern Australia, giving lectures and sermons and sharing Aboriginal legends and culture with anyone who wanted to listen. And fin
ally, the one hundred dollar bill portrays on one side Dame Nellie Melba an Australian opera soprano. She was born in 1861 at "Doonside" in Richmond (now an inner suburb of Melbourne) into a musical family. She was the first Australian soprano to gain international fame and was treated like a modern day super star by her fans. By all accounts she had a magnificent voice. Unfortunately for her, accounts of her personality were also recorded and do not portray her in a flattering light at all. I think this quote I read says it best. "If a singer's greatness can be gauged by how detested she was by colleagues, then Melba would undoubtedly be the greatest singer of all time." During World War I she did work very hard to raise funds for the war effort and later in her career she helped new young singers so she couldn't be all bad. Auguste Escoffier, chef at the Savoy Hotel, London heard Melba sing at Covent Gardens and hearing of the divas love of ice cream, created a dessert just for her called the "Peach Melba". The same chef later developed "Melba Toast" for the soprano when she was ill and this became a staple of her diet.
ally, the one hundred dollar bill portrays on one side Dame Nellie Melba an Australian opera soprano. She was born in 1861 at "Doonside" in Richmond (now an inner suburb of Melbourne) into a musical family. She was the first Australian soprano to gain international fame and was treated like a modern day super star by her fans. By all accounts she had a magnificent voice. Unfortunately for her, accounts of her personality were also recorded and do not portray her in a flattering light at all. I think this quote I read says it best. "If a singer's greatness can be gauged by how detested she was by colleagues, then Melba would undoubtedly be the greatest singer of all time." During World War I she did work very hard to raise funds for the war effort and later in her career she helped new young singers so she couldn't be all bad. Auguste Escoffier, chef at the Savoy Hotel, London heard Melba sing at Covent Gardens and hearing of the divas love of ice cream, created a dessert just for her called the "Peach Melba". The same chef later developed "Melba Toast" for the soprano when she was ill and this became a staple of her diet.On the other side of the $100 is Sir General John Monash Australian military command
er of World War I. He was born in Melbourne in 1865, to a family of Polish Jewish origin. He worked as a civil engineer, introduced reinforced concrete to Australian engineering practice and engineered a bridge over the Yarra river which opened in 1899. In WWI he participated in the Gallipoli campaign and showing great organisation and decision making quickly rose thru the ranks. By 1918 he was appointed commander of the Australian Corps, promoted to lieutenant-general and orchestrated many military victories. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery later wrote, "I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe". After the war he was heavily involved in acclimating returning soldiers, the organization of the observance of ANZAC Day and always retained a concern for Jewish affairs.
er of World War I. He was born in Melbourne in 1865, to a family of Polish Jewish origin. He worked as a civil engineer, introduced reinforced concrete to Australian engineering practice and engineered a bridge over the Yarra river which opened in 1899. In WWI he participated in the Gallipoli campaign and showing great organisation and decision making quickly rose thru the ranks. By 1918 he was appointed commander of the Australian Corps, promoted to lieutenant-general and orchestrated many military victories. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery later wrote, "I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe". After the war he was heavily involved in acclimating returning soldiers, the organization of the observance of ANZAC Day and always retained a concern for Jewish affairs. So there it is.... my Australian history lesson of the day!!!
I was curious about all the faces on the money and just thought I would share the info.
