23/08/2025
Something a little different and fun today. I am posting each child's recent writing project which was a report about a country of their choice. Some chose ones we have been to, and others choose ones they would like to visit or just interested them. Becoming better writers involves not just the practice of writing but also publishing your writing for others to enjoy. This part we just don't do enough of! First up is Tate and he choose Australia.
There are a lot of countries all around the world but one of the most interesting and arguably dangerous, is Australia, the land down under. If you don't know what the Australian flag looks like it has a Union Jack, the flag of the UK, in the top left corner, representing that Australia was a colony of the British, with a star below it showing that they are a current common wealth of the UK, and 5 stars on the right side representing the southern cross constellation. The country is located in the south-east aria of the world and is divided into 6 states, 2 internal territories, and some overseas territories. The 2 internal territories are the northern territory, and the capital territory. Some of the more well-known overseas territories are the Norfolk islands, and the Christmas islands. Now Australia has good relations with many countries around the world, like their close Asian neighbors, and the Oceania countries. Some their closest allies would be New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.
The Australian people are well known for a few main things, like the iconic accent, the fact that they live in one of the deadliest countries on earth, and boomerangs or didgeridoos. There are about 28 million people that live in Australia. The population is mostly whites, descended from the British colonies, Asians, and the indigenous people groups. In the early days of the British colonies, around 1788, many convicts were sent to live and work there. Many of the Asians came during the gold rushes of the 1850’s, and the Aboriginal peoples where there long before the others and still live and practice their traditional events.
Now let's get to what everyone wants to hear about, the plants, animals and landscape that Australia is famed for. Most of Australia’s land is called the out-back and is arid or semi-arid. Most of the northern aria is very tropical with wetlands, the east and west sides are sub-tropical, and more south but above Tasmania it’s a more temperate / subtropical climate, and Tasmania is a very green with a more temperate climate. Most people know of the great barrier reef, the out-back and many of the cuter and or infamous animals that live there, or in the more populated arias too. The kangaroo and koala bear are some of the most well know marsupials, the Huntsmen and Sidney funnel web are two of the most dangerous spiders in the world, along with the Inland Taipan and Eastern Brown Snake, the most and second most venomous snakes in the world. Now the deadly plants are a little less well known but are still good to know about just in case. The Gympie-Gympie is a plant whose wide leaves are covered in tiny needles that have neurotoxin. The needles don’t degrade in your skin and can realis small bits of neurotoxin and can cos pain years after you first brush the plant. The eucalyptus tree is the main and only food sours for the koala, but the sap and leaves can be deadly to people and the sap is very flammable.
Australia is known more for the deadly animals then its food, sports, or music, so here are a few dishes, sports and musicians that you may see, hear, or try while there. Some food you may be brave enough to try are Aussie Meat Pie, Vegemite, and Grilled Kangaroo, some of the favorite sports Australians enjoy are Football, cricket, and rugby. Musicians you may hear are AC/DC, Natalie Imbruglia, and Kylie Minogue.
That is a brief guide to Australia, a land of animals and plants that want you dead, interesting food and apparently AC/DC, so be careful if you visit and have your will ready before hand, and I hope this helps you survive the land down under.
