Australia, the smallest continent and largest island in the world, is located south of Indonesia between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is the most arid and least densely populated of the earth's continents (with an area of 7,686,850 square kms and a population of 19 million). Due to its early and sustained isolation, Australia is the habitat of such curious and unique fauna as the kangaroo, koala bear and platypus. The continent possess extensive mineral deposits - the most important of which are gold, coal, silver, nickel and uranium. Livestock raising, mining and manufacturing are the principal industries. Chief exports are wool, meat, wheat, iron ore and coal. Australia is now divided into 6 States and 2 Territories, with Canberra as the capital city. Our political system is closely modelled on that of Great Britain - the principal difference being the federal division of functions between the national (Commonwealth) and regional (State) governments. A constitution providing for Federation of the original colonies was approved by an Act of the Imperial Parliament dated 9 July 1900, and the Commonwealth of Australia was inaugurated on 1 January 1901. The Statute of Westminister Adoption Act, passed on 9 October 1942, officially established Australia's complete autonomy in external and internal affairs. The Commonwealth of Australia is equal in status with the other members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Queen of England is our Head of State.

The background music you hear is a popular Australian tune called "Waltzing Matilda". Many Australians think that this is simply a song about a tramp who camps by a creek, steals a sheep and then - rather than submit to capture by three policemen - commits suicide by drowning himself in the creek. However, there is more to this story than what simply meets the eye. Visit the Waltzing Matilda site to explore the history of this song. Whatever the truth, there can be no denying the fact that this song hits an emotional chord with most Australians when they hear it played. I believe that one reason for this lies deep in the Australian psyche. "Waltzing Matilda" has become a national symbol which conjures images of a generation of young men proudly marching off in World War I to the distant battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front. Because of the callous attitude and incompetence displayed by British generals like Haigh, the Australians suffered a heavy death toll which left a deep imprint on every community in what was then still a fledgling country. Australia's national identity was established via this "Baptism of Blood" and "Waltzing Matilda" was clearly established as our national song. Despite the emotional bond that exists between Australians and "Waltzing Matilda", the official Australian anthem is "Advance Australia Fair". For a brief look at the origins and lyrics of this anthem, visit the Advance Australia Fair site. On Royal occasions in Australia, "God Save the Queen" is still played.

Our other national symbol is the Australian flag. This consists of a blue background with the Union Jack in the upper hoist of the flag. On the fly are 5 white stars, representing the Southern Cross, a constellation of stars generally only visible in the southern hemisphere. Each of these stars has 7 points except for the smallest star which has only five. Directly below the Union Jack is a large 7 pointed white star called the Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia on 1 January 1901. There is one point for each of the six original states, and one to represent all of Australia's internal and external territories. For a brief history of the Australian flag, visit the Australian National Flag site.

The first whites to see Australia probably were Portuguese and Spanish navigators of the late 16th century. In 1770 Captain James Cook explored the east coast of Australia and annexed it for Great Britain. The colony of New South Wales was founded by Captain Arthur Phillip on 26 January 1788 (now celebrated as Australia Day) - the day the convicts of the First Fleet landed in Botany Bay. As such New South Wales is called the "Premier State". Until 1788 Australia was inhabited solely by Aboriginals - and the Wiradjari tribe, located in the Riverina, occupied the largest area of any tribe in Australia. New South Wales has the largest population of any State, claiming just over a third of the national total of over 18 million. The majority of these inhabitants live along the coast, with more than 80% concentrated in the vast metropolitan zone formed by the neighbouring cities of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Its area covers about 10% of the mainland.

The Riverina is a productive region of New South Wales. The fertility of this region is due to the "miracle of irrigation". With the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (the "MIA") at its core, the Riverina is recognised as one of the richest food producing areas in Australia. The "desolate plains" that the explorer John Oxley believed would "never again be visited by civilised man" now support a population of 50,000 and produce most of Australia's rice, 30% of the nation's rockmelons, 80% of the State's wine and 60% of the State's citrus and stone fruit.

Griffith was proclaimed a town in 1916, the year the railway arrived. By 1922 it was a flourishing place and in 1987 it became a city, with the largest concentration of population in the MIA. Griffith, named after a former Minister for Public Works, was designed by Walter Burley Griffin - the Chicago architect who received world wide acclaim in 1912 when he won the competition for the design of Canberra (the Australian capital). Griffin's design incorporated the main canal of the MIA into the plan of the town, and located the main commercial centre within three concentric circular roads. For a tour exploring the early days of this city, visit the Griffith - A History site. Spurred by a government advertising campaign, the new citizens of the infant town came from as far afield as Italy and California and included soldier-settlers after both world wars. Italian immigrants were attracted by the type of farming - market gardening and viticulture - with which they were familiar. Now almost 50% of the population is of Italian extraction and a strong Italian influence is obvious in the restaurants and vineyards. The first vines were planted by McWilliams in 1913. With the importing of Italian viticulture techniques from the 1940s onward, the region now produces approximately 80% of the State's wines and 20% of the national total. Rice, citrus fruits and the nation's largest egg and poultry enterprise are the other primary products of the town. It comes as no surprise to learn that Griffith has the well earned title "Wine and Food Country".