Australia is a unique nation and diverse in culture, language and

values. This statement captures the range of representation Australia

offers. Explain how composers have explored this diversity, with
relation to your related text.
For many years, Australia has been depicted one-sidedly, showing only the
stereotypical behaviour, thoughts and beliefs of the Anglo-Australian culture.
However, since the arrival of other migrant groups with different cultural aspects
and foreign norms, the overall picture of Australia has changed. Today, Australia
represents a large jigsaw puzzle that is made up of cultural diversity, a variety of
languages and interesting values that all join together to create the
characteristic of the country as a whole. Through the poems My Country by
Dorothea Mackellar and if I was the son of an englishman by Komminos Zervos,
as well as the picture book The Little Refugee by Anh Do, the multiformity of
Australia can be seen through the eyes of individuals from different cultural
backgrounds, the beauty of the landscape from different point of views, the
hardships that an individual face in the countrys environment and the accepting
nature of the country.
Overseas migration and the movement of refugees have further expanded the
population of Australia by placing different cultural dimensions in the everyday
practices of the once secluded country. In if I was the son of an englishman,
Zervos highlights the fact that his father eats salami and his mother wears
black to indicate the difference in the Greek cultural practice to an AngloAustralians as they do not normally eat salami or wear black during a long
period of mourning. This is seen through the not correct use of punctuation
throughout the poem to suggest the refusal to meet obvious expectations in
literature, and thus, life. Similarly, the issue of cultural difference is illustrated by
Do in The little refugee where his classmates laughed at him because he had
different food to other kids. This is shown through a first person point of view to
create a sense of empathy and sympathy from readers.
Australia is rich in natural beauty and unique ecosystems with wondrous nature
sceneries. This fact is cherished by Dorothea Mackellar in her poem My Country
where much personification is used to illustrate her love and appreciation for
Australia, this shows that Australia is not just a piece of land; it stores a deep
connection within Mackellar, much like a person would to another I love her far
horizons/I love her jewel-sea. This perspective is also shared by Do when his
family first arrived to Australia, through the line What a great country. This is
accompanied by an illustration of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera
House which uses chiaroscuro, suggesting their new future in a new country.
As a foreigner to a country, one faces many challenges and hardships in their
everyday life. Zervos displays the everyday racism and unequal treatment
between an Anglo-Saxon and people of other races throughout his poem. Racism
upon the working class is shown when Anglos can gain access to prestigious jobs
such as a high court judge and an actor on the telly using colloquialism. This
hints towards the inequality that exists within the Australian society while

working. On the other hand, Do focusses more on his familys struggle of having
to work hard to earn money for his schooling, as uniforms were expensive and
(they) couldnt afford to buy the right one.
Despite the obvious difference in the practices of one cultural to another, the
majority of Australians have learnt to accept this change within one another. This
is seen predominantly in The little refugee through humour used in the
paragraph He was wearing a girls dress. The hospitality of the school and his
friends have given Do a new motivation to strive to work hard at school. As a
result, he achieved the role of class captain and made his parents proud. This is
depicted in the scene where they are both beaming and clapping along with
other parents. Warm colours are used to display the happy mood and the overall
joyous atmosphere of the illustrated room.
Australia no longer has one uniform side to its everyday life; instead, it is filled
with cultural diversity all fit together as one. This diversity varies on the different
perspective of each individual and their ethnicity, the beauty of the landscape
from different point of views based on ones situation and identity, as well as the
hardships that an individual face as a foreigner. These factors result to the
accepting nature of Australia.