Educating Bob Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kangaroo

The kangaroo is as famous an Australian icon as the koala. Although the image of a boxing kangaroo has been around since 1891, the boxing kangaroo flag was first seen at the America's Cup Yacht race in 1983 and was quickly adopted as Australia's sporting flag.

Matilda was a 13m tall mechanical kangaroo first seen at the Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane in 1982. To this day, the mere mention of Matilda is embarrassing to more than just a few Aussies, most of whom hail from Brisbane.

Bob actually believes there are kangaroos hopping down the main street of the capital cities and he thought drop bears were a reality. Fair dinkum.

Answer: Neighbours

"Neighbours", one of Australia's most successful media exports, first screened in 1985 on the Seven Network. The program moved to Channel Ten the following year when Seven sold the rights to the show.

The focus of the show "Neighbours" is the fictional Ramsey Street (shot on location in Pin Oak Court) and the lives of the various people living there. The wedding of Charlene (Kylie Minogue) and Scott (Jason Donovan), which aired in 1986 achieved the highest ever ratings for the show and also became one the most popular episodes of any Australian soap.

I tell Bob that Kylie Minogue, who played the role of Charlene Mitchell went on to become one of Australia's most popular and successful singers. He said that if I should ever meet his Mum I shouldn't tell her this, as she believes the show and its characters are real people and cannot be swayed against her belief.

Answer: Australian Rules football

"Aussie Rules" is played on an oval field which may be a modified cricket ground or a specialized football field. In a game of Aussie Rules there are 18 players per team on the field at any one time and they may position themselves anywhere on that field as there are no set positions or off-side rules. However, only four players from each team are allowed in the centre square at each centre bounce.

A ball-up is not a mistake, but is the term used for when the umpire bounces the ball on the ground (or throws it into the air if the ground is soggy). The ruckmen (usually the tallest players on the team) jump into the air and battle for possession of the ball on its way down. These skirmishes are called "rucks".

There are four goal posts at each end of the field and a goal (6 points) is awarded if the ball is kicked between the two centre poles. A behind (1 point) is scored if the ball hits the post on the way through, is kicked between a goal post and a behind post, or a player sends the ball through the goal posts by touching it with any body part except the foot.

Clear as mud? Don't worry, Bob didn't understand it either and I heard him mutter something that sounded suspiciously like aerial ping-pong. Incensed, I brought out my next taste of Aussie culture.

Answer: Kumara

Kumara is actually a New Zealand root vegetable that is often served with roast lamb.

New Zealanders claim that the pavlova, a favourite Aussie dessert, is their creation, while we Aussies think of it as ours. Just another aspect of the friendly rivalry between the two countries. Regardless of where it originated, the pavlova is delicious. Made of a light meringue base and topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, it's a lovely light dessert for the hot Australian summer.

TimTams are a decadent chocolate biscuit originally named after an American race horse while the lamington is a cube of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut. Where the name came from is in doubt, with some people claiming it was named for Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, while others insist it was named after the Scottish town of Lamington in South Lanarkshire.

Bob is muttering under his breath about calories and not wanting to ruin his perfect six pack. He's just lucky I didn't bring over the Vegemite. That really would have greased his wheels.

Answer: XXXX

XXXX (pronounced Fourex) was originally called XXX and so named because of the strength of the beer. Fourex was first brewed in the Milton factory by Castlemaine Perkins and is still brewed there today.

Bob quite likes this offering; despite his disappointment at finding out I was not giving him something R-rated.

Answer: Australia

"Australia", directed by Baz Luhrmann, tells the tale of Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) and the Drover (Jackman) driving 2000 cattle across the harsh Australian outback, only to reach Darwin at the same time as the Japanese.

Bob's eyes were hanging out of his head watching Nicole Kidman on the screen, but that's OK, I was watching Hugh Jackman.

Answer: Bondi

"Bondi" or "Boondi" is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. Bondi Beach is situated 7 km east of the Sydney business district and was the controversial home of the beach volleyball competition for the 2000 Sydney Games. When it was announced the competition was to be held at Bondi, people protested the move fearing the beach would never recover. Although construction of the court and stadium did deface the area in front of the pavilion, it was restored after the competition was over and is, once again, one of Australia's busiest beaches.

"Bondi Rescue" is a reality television show that features the daily routines of the Bondi lifeguards.

Bob mentions how he loved watching the bikini clad ladies diving about on the sand in their quest for Olympic glory. Remind me not to mention thongs around Bob. He'd probably think underwear not footwear.

Answer: Dame Edna Everage

Dame Edna Everage is a character portrayed by Australian comedian Barry Humphries. Dame Edna first appeared in a university revue in 1955 and has gone on to become a household name across the globe. She came into her own during the 1980s and achieved notoriety after a series of television appearances in the '80s and '90s.

Alter-ego, Barry Humphries is referred to as Edna's manager, while Humphries himself never calls Dame Edna by name. In March 2012, Humphries announced that Dame Edna was retiring. In one media interview, Dame Edna said she was looking for love.

Bob cringes when I find a picture of Dame Edna on the internet and says she is the ugliest woman he has ever seen. I've got news for you Bob and it's all bad. You'd better be careful too, mate, she's looking for a boyfriend.

Answer: Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is a thoroughbred horse race that is held at Flemington racecourse on the first Tuesday in November each year. The first race was held in 1861 and was won by Archer, who backed up and won the following year. While several horses have won back-to-back races, mare Makybe Diva was the first horse to win three consecutive races (2003-2005).

"Fashions on the Field" is a major distraction from the various races, with prizes awarded for the best dressed man and woman. Hats and fascinators are de rigueur for the ladies with some creations defying the laws of gravity. Not everyone takes the fashion seriously however and often wear bizarre outfits, such as tuxeo shirts with board shorts and thongs. Australians love to party and The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the biggest party of the year.

Bob gets into the spirit of the race and cheers as his horse crosses the finish line. It didn't win, but it finished, which is more than I can say more my nag. It's still running.

Answer: AC/DC

"AC/DC" (Acca Dacca to many Aussies) was formed in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. The band is often regarded as one of the pioneers of the heavy rock movement in Australia, but the brothers steadfastly classed their music as "Rock and Roll". Lead singer Bon Scott died suddenly after recording their "Highway to Hell" album in 1980 and for a while the group almost disbanded. Scott's parents intervened, saying that Scott would have wanted them to continue. So auditions for a new lead singer were held and Brian Johnson was recruited as lead vocalist. The band's first subsequent album, "Back in Black", became their highest ever selling album. It was the world's highest selling album of all time, until it was eclipsed by Michael Jackson's "Thriller'.

Guitarist Angus Young, lead guitarist, songwriter and co founcder of AC/DC, is well known for wearing a schoolboy uniform on stage, complete with shorts, cap and backpack.

I teach Bob the corrupted words to "Long Way to the Top" and he finds them hysterical. Hmm, maybe he's had enough of the amber fluid for today.