Do you come from the Land Down Under?

The Good Daughter is set in Australia, and given how important place is to Honey Brown’s character and story, we thought we’d share some facts from the great and glorious* land Down Under. So here they are: five fast facts you never knew you wanted to know about Oz.

*Negative aspects of said great and glorious land may be exaggerated in this post for cheap laughs in order to counter any potential for patriotic bias on the part of the author.

1. Tasmania is part of Australia.

While there may have been some talk of Sydney and Melbourne getting together and punting it closer to Antarctica with a big pointy stick, such comments can clearly be attributed to the absence of a big enough, pointy enough stick desire to engage in witty banter.

Still from the film Crocodile Dundee — That’s not a poisonous animal. THIS is a poisonous animal. Oh no, hang on. It’s a knife.

2. Australia wantonly gives refuge to some of the most pernicious creepy-crawlies on the planet.

We are clearly seeking attention. Among our deadly menagerie are numbered six of the world’s ten most venomous spiders. We lay claim to all ten most poisonous snakes. Our salt water crocs (“salties”) make the alligator look like a fluffy bunny, our kookaburras can cost you millions, and that cute little platypus you’ve heard so much about? Yup, toxic.

While this has spurred its share of doom and gloom (see here, here and, to a more sarcastic extent, here for examples), it’s safe to say that documentaries are not responsible. Hailing as I do from the heartland of the dastardly Sydney Funnel Web, it’s actually more difficult than you might think to wind up face to multi-eyed face with one. If you didn’t spend 24 hours in a plane so you could do a spot of gardening in a moist Southern Hemisphere shrubbery, chances are you’ll “be apples“.

The saltie in action, with the much-mourned Aussie legend Steve Irwin:

3. Australians are adrift in a British/American sea, but we’re keeping our heads above water.

You’re unlikely to encounter the fabled drop bear, but you will find yourself walking down sidewalks, pavements and footpaths, have tea and dinner, go to the mall and the shopping centre and wave hello, hullo and hello. But at the end of the day, you can still chuck a snag on the barbie and crack a tinnie if you’ve been flat out like a lizard drinking. No worries.