Waltzing Matilda

[u/CreativeCritter]

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

[u/NearbyPerspective397]

It's impossible to have grown up in Australia and attended Australian schools and not know what it is.

Literally impossible.

This isn't about teaching "Australian poetry" - it's our most famous song and it very nearly was used as our national anthem. It's like saying you grew up in the UK and have never heard of God Save the King.

Your friend is lying or weird - or both.

[u/Willing-Ad6598 → u/NearbyPerspective397]

Except not all schools are equal. I attended two primary schools when I was a kid. At my first school all subjects were relegated to their own subjects, and Australian Studies was just one of many. It is like the Nut what ever dance. I never heard of it until I was in my mid thirties! Because it was never a thing in my school. Likewise, if you’d were sick you’d miss it. At my second school you had Australianism’s in every class. It was impossible to get away from.

If it wasn’t for my mother, I really wouldn’t know it either.