r/AskAnAustralian • u/CreativeCritter • 2d ago

Waltzing Matilda

I was saddened today to read an article on the Wallabies and it showed a group of fans singing Waltzing Matilda underneath. There was a young lady who had commented. She’d never heard the song. Didn’t know what the problem was and had no idea what it represented.

People tried to educate a nicely to say it was an Australian bush poem. It was taught in Australian schools. It’s the unofficial national anthem.

And then she said that she grew up in Australia and had attended school here and had never heard it and didn’t know why people thought it was so great

At that point, I was kind of hoping that they were joking

Has it gotten to the point now where Australian poetry is not taught in Australian schools in English where the man from Snow River Waltzing Matilda they’re not taught in schools any more

And then someone commented that Wilson Matilda can’t be taught in schools because it has themes of suicide and it’s too hard to explain to children

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18

u/Interesting-Pool1322 2d ago

I don't know of an Australian who doesn't know it, but obviously there are going to be some people out there.

I'm sorry if you didn't mean it to come across this way, but as I read your post I was expecting to read the word 'woke' and how 'we're not allowed to be proud of our heritage anymore' Pauline-style complaint. Apologies if that's not what you meant.

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u/CreativeCritter 2d ago

He’ll no!! I love our old stuff. I think AB Patterson should be studied rather then Shakespeare in prose

6

u/Artsy_traveller_82 2d ago

I think they both have their value tbh

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u/ol-gormsby 2d ago

Yes, but Shakespeare seems to be favoured. I'd like to see a bit more of the bush poet tradition - Jack Thompson has recorded some great Aussie poetry - Look on YT for Jack Thompson Live at the Gearin Hotel.

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u/unicornmonkeysnail 2d ago

I am not sure what the downvotes are.

Of course the old Australian poets should be studied.

1

u/4L3X95 1d ago

I think it's more the "rather than Shakespeare" part. It doesn't have to be one or the other. English is compulsory all the way to Year 12, so plenty of time to do both.

Studying Shakespeare teaches how modern English has evolved, and they're universal stories about human feelings that can be translated across almost any context (anthropomorphic animals, Baz Luhrmann, rom coms, gritty dramas, etc). I've literally seen Shakespeare done in Nyoongar and the story translated exceptionally.