h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"...has been, somewhat ironically, referred to as the 'Lucky Country'"
Why ironically?

Beautiful beaches, excellent lifestyle, great weather and wonderful people. What's not to like?

Sure our biggest industries are sheep and digging holes in the ground, and the only reason the local beach doesn't have sharks is 'cos the crocs ate 'em, but that just helps us work up an appetite for beer (the best beer in the world, of course)and barbecues.

Oh, and here in Queensland the whole "shrimp on the barbie" thing is rubbish - why would you ruin the world's freshest King Prawns by cooking 'em?

Oh, hang on....wait. Wait.
No! Stone the crows, it's a terrible place. You wouldn't like it at all.
(Quick Bruce, hide the grog. Shove the steak back in the esky.)
Stay away. You'll thank us. Hot, horrible and no snow - that's us. Just desert and Aussie Rules football as far as the eye can see. You'd hate it.
(Bloody 'ell, do you reckon I talked my way outta that Bruce? Strewth; I mean we're hospitable and all that, but there's only so many people will fit in the pool...)

It's ironic because the title was given to Australia by the journalist and historian Donald Horne in his book of that title published in 1964: 'Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck'

So Gnomon still knows everything. How does he do it?!

TRiG.

Actually, I was quoting Icy North, who said that in the Peer Review conversation for this Entry.

Don't want to lose the mystique!

Anyway, you still knew it, however it got lodged in your brain!

TRiG.

'Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck'.

Hmmm. Given some of our recent *leaders* - George Dubleya's ventriloquists dummy (aka John Howard) for one - I'd have to say that we're most fortunate that the regular Aussie Battler (TM) can still call it "The Lucky Country".
I reckon Professor Horne is well on the money.

Thanks by the way, you led me to his work and while not finished yet I'm finding it very insightful.