Comparing Representations of Australia

Advance Australia Fair

Australia's sons let us rejoice

For we are young and free.

We've golden soil and wealth for toil

Our home is girt by sea

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts

Of beauty rich and rare;

In history's page, let every stage,

Advance Australia fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia Fair"

When gallant Cook from Albion sailed

To trade wide oceans o'er,

True British courage bore him on

Till he landed on our shore

Then here he raised Old England's flag,

The standard of the brave

With all her faults we love her still

Britannia rules the waves.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia Fair"

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross

We'll toil with hearts and hands

To make our youthful commonwealth

Renowned of all the lands

For loyal sons beyond the seas

We've boundless plains to share

With courage let us all combine

To Advance Australia fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia Fair"

This original version of Advance Australia Fair was written by P D  McCormick in 1878.

Use evidence from the texts to answer these questions in detail.

1)    Compare this poem with the version we sing today. Identify the changes.

2)    Which group is specifically addressed by this text?

3)    Who is excluded from this text?

4)    What is seen as important to “Australia’s sons” in this text?

5)    How does the writer “position” the reader of the text to accept the invited reading?

6)    What do the changes you identify in question one suggest about shifts in social values?

Image taken from Google images on 28/01/11