Hooray for Aussiewood! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lawn Bowls

Released in 2002, 'Crackerjack' stars Mick Molloy as Jack Simpson who has joined the local lawn bowling club three times so he can get free parking which he rents out to his workmates to make some extra cash. When the bowling club is in danger of financial collapse the club president insists all members need to play and Jack reluctantly becomes involved. Of course against all odds they win the big tournament and the club is saved.

Answer: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was released in 1994 and was seen as somewhat ground breaking in its positive treatment of LGBTI issues. The Priscilla of the title is the bus that takes them from Sydney, through the Australian outback, to Alice Springs.

The contrast between our drag queens and some of the people they meet creates some of the best and most thought provoking scenes of the movie. Whilst this may sound a little serious it is a comedy! 'Road Games' and 'Last Cab to Darwin' are also Australian made movies in the road trip genre. And 'Tales of the Fabulous Fairy Hill Girls' is not an actual movie but Fairy Hills is a town in New South Wales, Australia.

Answer: A radio telescope

The Dish of this movie is the radio telescope at Parkes in country New South Wales which was a critical part of broadcasting the first moon landing. Again, another classic Australian comedy. Who knew astrophysics could be funny. Well it is if it looks like the Dish won't be in the right position in time for the broadcast of the moon landing.

The cricket game in "The Dish" is a classic moment.

Answer: Muriel's Wedding

Muriel Heslop dreams of the perfect marriage and moving away from her dysfunctional family in Porpoise Spit. Unfortunately Muriel's own social skills are somewhat lacking and this seems an impossible dream. She does eventually get the 'dream' wedding with the 'perfect man' but it is actually an arranged marriage to secure Australian citizenship for a South African swimmer.

The marriage lasts barely longer than the wedding ceremony. And yes this is a comedy but in the best tradition of comedy it shines the spotlight on some socially questionable behaviours.

Answer: Satine

Satine is the ill-fated star and courtesan of the night club of the movie's title. This visually stunning movie was directed by Baz Luhrmann and was released in 2001. Richard Roxburgh gives a wonderful performance as the not very likeable Duke of Monroth who pursues Satine. Ewan McGregor plays her somewhat fickle love interest, Christian, who struggles to reconcile his love for her and the life she leads. Sadly Satine dies of consumption towards the end of the movie.

Answer: The Castle

Every man's home is their castle no matter how unprepossessing or badly located at the end of an airport runway it is. The Kerrigan family love their home but are ill prepared to fight the big end of town to keep it. Luckily a chance meeting with a retired barrister changes the odds and the Kerrigan clan get to keep their home.

This 1997 movie was filmed in 11 days and on a budget of just A$750,000.

Answer: Kate Winslet

'The Dressmaker' is a movie in the revenge genre in which Winslet's character Myrtle 'Tilly' Dunnage returns, as a successful dressmaker, to her small country home town some 25 years after she was forced to leave. Dressed in classic 1950s couture, Kate is stunning and bewitches the town with her style and skill as she uncovers the events that led to her banishment all those years ago.

Answer: The Sapphires

Whilst opals are very much an Australian gem, the name that the group went by was The Sapphires. A few members of the group were initially spotted at a country music singing concert by an Irish promoter looking for entertainers to send to entertain the troops in Vietnam. With the addition of another relative, who was a member of the stolen generation (i.e. forcibly removed from her family) they become The Sapphires and entertain the troops in Vietnam against a backdrop of war and race.

Answer: Strictly Ballroom

This Baz Luhrmann movie was released in 1992. Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) is the son of two ballroom dancers but his mother, a ball room dance teacher, is appalled that he wants to dance his own steps. This movie contrasts the highly structured and almost mechanised world of ballroom dancing against the much more passionate and free flowing latin american style - the Paso Doble - of Scott and his partner Fran. Of course the underdogs are victorious against the machinations of organised ballroom dancing and yes he gets to dance his own steps.

Answer: Mad Max

'Mad Max' was released in 1979 and cost A$0.4 million to make. Not bad for a film that went on to gross in excess of US$100 million which made it a one time world record holder for most profitable film. 'Chopper' is an Australian movie based on the life of the notorious Australian criminal Chopper Read. 'Love the Beast' is an Australian documentary about actor Eric Bana's love of his car. And 'Kenny' is an Australian comedy about a man who installs portaloos.