They're An Inventive Lot Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vegemite

Kraft foods' owner came up with the idea, and the company's chief scientist created Vegemite in 1922. While it is very much an acquired taste, Aussie kids were practically weaned on the stuff and Vegemite has been putting a "rose in every cheek" since it first hit the supermarket shelves. Aussies abroad pack their own jar in their backpacks or seek it out in specialty stores.

A public furore erupted when Vegemite created a spin-off when they mixed cream cheese into the mix, but the outcry was over the name, not the taste. After all, Aussies have been eating vegemite and cheese together since cheese slices were invented. Kraft, in all their misguided wisdom, called the new spread "iSnack 2.0"! A very un-Australian name and one that many Aussies could not identify with. Hence a quick backtrack by the company, and the spread will be renamed. However, many jars with the hated name still sit on supermarket shelves (often heavily discounted) but probably many more have been hoarded away to wait until the ill-fated labels become a collector's item.

Answer: Hills Hoist rotary clothesline

Lance Hill's rotary clothesline could be raised and lowered by a winding mechanism, to enable the washing to be lifted out of the reach of ankle bitters and family mutts. It also enabled the washing to catch the breeze, although it also lifted it high enough so neighbours several houses down could see your socks and jocks flapping from wooden pegs. Hence came the tradition of hanging sheets and towels on the outer row of line to hide your smalls from view.

As kids we loved the lines, and many a fun time was had taking a flying leap to grab hold of one of the arms, accompanied by squeals of joy, to fling ourselves round in space, with the dogs chasing after us. Until, of course, Mum or Dad came out and yelled at us to stop before we broke the thing.

I'm proud to say I still have an original Hills hoist in my yard. They're much better than the impersonations available as they are bigger, although older models are prone to rust.

Answer: Victa mower

Mervyn's son Garry used a cylinder-based rotary mower to make extra money, but it was so big and heavy, it took two people to transport and operate the thing. So Mervyn toyed with a rotary mower with a small two-stroke engine on the side. As he wanted the mower to be not only cheaper, but also lighter and able to be used by one person, he made the base plate lighter as well.

His first prototype used an old peach tin as a fuel tank, but it proved so popular, Mervyn had to give up his day job to become mower-making man.

Answer: ANZAC biscuits

During the First World War, it took two months for supplies to travel from Australia to the soldiers at the front line. As food supplies, especially eggs, were low back home, Anzac biscuits were made using ingredients that wouldn't spoil before reaching the soldiers.

Recipe:
1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup coconut
3/4 cup sugar
100gm butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
60 mls boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
Sift flour
Add rolled oats, coconut and sugar
Melt butter in a saucepan and add syrup and water
Add soda, allow to foam then add to dry ingredients
Mix well
Take small pieces and press out onto greased trays. Allow room between each for spreading.
Bake until golden brown in a slow oven, as they burn easily.

Answer: Tim Tam

The Australian biscuit company "Arnott's" created Tim Tams in 1964 and the owner, Ross Arnott named them "Tim Tams" after a winning horse at the Kentucky Derby in 1958.

Several companies have tried to copy the "Tim Tam", with fellow Australian company "Dick Smith" being sued in 2003 for their release of "Temptin'" chocolate biscuits in similar packaging. "Woolworths'" supermarkets have also copied the Tim Tam, with their home-brand biscuit called "Triple Choc".

You've not lived until you've had a Tim Tam slam. Take a little bite off opposing corners of your Tim Tam and use it as a straw to suck up a hot coffee. Just before the whole thing disintegrates, shove it in your mouth and experience taste heaven! It also works with cold milk or tea, but my personal choice is coffee. Copycat brands aren't quite as good, you have to have the original Arnotts Tim Tam for it to be a real slam.

Answer: Stump jump plough

In the late 19th Century, Mallee scrub in Australia proved very hard to get rid of, and made land cultivation extremely difficult. The South Australian Government of the time offered a £200 reward for a successful stump puller, however nothing submitted proved reliable enough. Since the stump-jump plough enabled as much land to be cultivated as possible, and proved to be easy to use, the Smith brothers were awarded the ₤200. The plough consisted of hinged parts, so when the blade encountered an underground stump, it rose out of the ground. Weights attached to the plough pulled the blade back underground as soon as the stump has been passed.

Answer: Dual flush loo

Aussies have long been lamenting the waste of wasted water flushed down the toilet, and some people took to dropping a brick into the cistern so less water was used.

The dual flush system, invented by Bruce Thompson, features a twin cistern with separate buttons allowing for full and half flushes. Newer modifications have dropped the amount of water flushed even further with some toilets requiring only 3 litres of water to clear liquid waste and 6 litres for weightier issues.

Answer: Wiltshire Staysharp Knife

Jackson came up with the idea of a self-sharpening knife in 1964, and it took several years to perfect his device. He placed a spring-loaded sharpening block inside a scabbard, so every time the knife was removed or replaced, it sharpened itself.
The knife was test marked in Perth in 1969, just in time for Christmas, and then sold around the rest of Australia the following year. Wiltshire Staysharp knives now have patents and design registrations in 37 countries around the world.

Answer: Life saving reel

The world's first life saving club was on Bronte Beach in 1903, and their equipment comprised a roll of rope on a pole stuck in the sand. In 1906, Lyster Ormsby fashioned a model of a portable horizontal reel from a cotton reel with two hairpins stuck on it.

The first full sized reel was built by Sgt John Bond of Victoria Barracks, and required a lifesaver wearing a belt attached to the rope to swim out to the distressed swimmer, wherein the crew on the beach would then haul on the rope to bring them back to shore.

The design was modified slightly that same year, and remained in use until the 1930s. They were phased out when the rubber duckies (inflatable boats with outboard motors) were introduced. Charles Kingsford Smith was allegedly the first person to be rescued using the reel system.

Answer: Zinc cream

Fauldings pharmaceutical company created a white sun block from zinc oxide back in 1948, but it was never really popular, despite its excellent UV protection. But Aussie kids love their sporting heroes, and when they see one of their idols wearing a face full of the stuff, suddenly they will do so too.
Zinc is also available in many colours, including pink for the girls, and no international sporting event is complete unless half the crowd slaps green and gold zinc on their faces (or some other part of their anatomy).