A Mixed Bag of Australiana Trivia Quiz

Answer: Miming Prawns

Apart from being one of Australia's favourite comedians, Shane Bourne is also a fine actor, presently playing Bill 'Happy' Henderson, a pessimistic lawyer, in the ABC drama "MDA".

Answer: Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly co-produced (with Andy Baldwin) the 1999 release of the self-titled album, "Professor Ratbaggy". He is also a frontman/singer/songwriter. The band was rooted in New Orleans/Memphis funk, R&B and dub reggae. The album produced two singles, "White Trash" and "Coma".

Answer: Little Richard

Ever the showman, Little Richard set the standard for the flamboyance displayed by many of those who followed in his rock 'n roll footsteps. Born 1932, he won a talent contest in 1951 in Atlanta which led to a recording contract with RCA-Victor. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. (By the way, Elvis never toured Australia!)

Answer: Wayne Bartholomew

Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew got his nickname because of his speed on the soccer field back in the days where money was so scarce, he had to scrounge for food. In 1999, he took over the management of the Association of Surfing Professionals and moved the corporate offices to Australia.

Answer: Eucla

In 1971, Eucla caused a bit of a stir when it was reported a half-naked blonde girl had gone wild and was living with the kangaroos. The story engendered much media interest but was subsequently found to be a hoax dreamed up to give the tiny settlement a bit of publicity.

Answer: Vida Goldstein

Born in Portland, Victoria, of Polish, Jewish and Irish heritage, Vida Goldstein came from a family with strong social views, In 1903, as an Independent, she became the first woman in the British Empire to stand for election to a national Parliament. Her bid for a Senate seat failed, but she continued to fight for women's suffrage, women's rights and social justice.

She died, aged 80, in 1949.

Answer: Cobb & Co

Freeman Cobb, an American, began Cobb & Co in Australia in 1853, selling out in 1861 to a syndicate. Basing their coach design on American Concord coaches, the carriages were built to enable swift travel in rugged Australian conditions. From this small beginning, Cobb & Co became the biggest and best transport system in the world, with branches in all States (except Tasmania), in New Zealand, South Africa and Japan.

Answer: Tony Barber

Tony Barber is best known in Australia as host of Channel 9's "Sale of the Century" for 11 record-breaking years. In the mid-60s, working as an advertising executive, he cast himself as 'The Cambridge Whistler', the central character in a TV cigarette commercial. From there, he was invited to host the Grundy daytime quiz show, "Temptation", and his TV career took off from there.

Answer: Jeanne Little

Jeanne Little made her TV debut on the Mike Walsh Show in September 1974. Invited on as a guest, she quickly became a regular, wowing and winning audiences. In 1976, she won the Gold Logie for most popular TV personality and, on Australia Day 2001, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her charity work and contributions to the entertainment industry.

Answer: Peter Dodds McCormick

Born in Glasgow in 1835, Peter Dodds McCormick arrived in Australia in 1855, having completed an apprenticeship in joinery. He soon became active in the musical life and the Presbyterian Church in Sydney, and worked a great deal with children's choirs until his death in 1916.

The words and music of 'Advance, Australia Fair' were written and composed by McCormick in 1878, and the song became the official Australian national anthem in 1984.