green nomad noun: a person whose travels within Australia are motivated by a concern for the environment. In the Bournda Environmental Education Centre’s 42nd World Environment Day Dinner, held in Tathra, New South Wales, a suggestion was made to the key speaker: … a re-branding of grey nomads to ‘green nomads’, [thereby] encouraging older travellers […]
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Anzac Day rule noun a tradition that heaters should not be used in Canberra before Anzac Day. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH An Australian Government website on energy use has a page headed: ‘Your energy bill and the ANZAC Day rule’, and provides the following advice: Unknown to ACT outsiders, an ancient practice […]
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picfac noun a photo opportunity, especially as used by politicians. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH In the lead-up to the 2010 election, a journalist expressed frustration with prime minister Kevin Rudd’s preference for a particular kind of media opportunity: I don’t know why he is there, who he thinks he is, or what […]
Read morenoun: used allusively of a comeback or reappearance, especially after a final performance or retirement. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH John Farnham (‘Johnny’ in his early days) is a hugely successful Australian contemporary pop singer. His professional career spans fifty years from the 1960s until the present, and his 1986 album Whispering […]
Read morenoun: a baby platypus. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH There is some discussion on the Internet about the correct name for a baby platypus. Some commentators note that a baby platypus may be called a puggle, while others say that puggle refers only to a baby echidna. The following writer has an […]
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