Special Sub-Topic: Australian or Not? Click Here To Play: Australian or Not?

"Do you know what it is yet?" is something that Rolf Harris would often ask his audience as he completed a painting. Is this entertainer an Australian?

Yes. Rolf was born in Bassendean, Western Australia in 1930. He is well known on British TV, and he was recently impersonated by Jarvis Cocker on 'Celebrity Star's in their Eyes'.

In 'Braveheart' he played a Scottish hero, but is Mel Gibson Australian?

No. Mel Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York, but the family of 11 children re-located to Australia when Mel was still a young boy.

In 'Crocodile Dundee' Paul Hogan played the archetypical Aussie, but is he Australian?

Yes. Lightning Ridge in New South Wales was the birthplace of Paul Hogan. He was born there in 1940.

The Bee Gees are one of the most successful singer/songwriters, but are they Australian?

No. The brothers Gibb were born in Manchester England, they then moved to the Isle of Man, and later in 1958 the family moved to Australia.

Ned Kelly, Australia's most infamous outlaw was of Irish descent, but was he Australian?

Yes. Ned Kelly was born 1854 in Beveridge Victoria, he was hung in 1880, aged 26 years old, and his last words were thought to be "such is life".

His most famous alter ego is 'Dame Edna Everidge', but is Barry Humphries Australian?

Yes. Barry Humphries was born 1934, and like Dame Edna, he was also born in Melbourne.

She was 'Sandy' in 'Grease', and appeared with Gene Kelly in 'Xanadu'; but was Olivia Newton-John born in Australian?

No. Olivia was born in Cambridge England, and she represented Britain in the 'Eurovision Song Contest' in 1974 with the song 'Long Live Love', but that year the winners were ABBA.

She went from 'Ramsay Street' to world-wide fame, but is Kylie Minogue Australian?

Yes. Born in Melbourne in 1968, Kylie began her career when she appeard on TV aged 12 years old, and her provocative waxwork model stands at Madam Tussaud's.

Another singer, but from an earlier age. Nellie Melba was created a Dame in 1918, but was she Australian?

Yes. Born Helen Porter Mitchell in Melbourne, Dame Nellie took her surname from the city where she was born, and such was her fame that both Peach Melba and Melba Toast were named in her honour.

Germaine Greer caused quite a stir with her book 'The Female Eunuch' and became a feminist icon, but was she Australian?

Yes. In 1939 Germaine was born in Melbourne, she went to England in the 1960s, and from 1968 to 1973 she was a lecturer at Warwick University.

Robert Helpmann was the principal dancer in the Royal Ballet from 1933 until 1950, but was he Australian?

Yes. In 1909 Robert Helpmann was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, in 1965 he was named 'Australian of the Year' and he was knighted in 1968.

Nicole Kidman was once married to Tom Cruise, and starred in films such as 'Moulin Rouge' and 'The Others', but was Nicole born in Australia?

No. Nicole Kidman was in fact born in Honolulu where her father was studying. The family moved to Australia when she was a small child, and she grew up in Longueville, a suburb of Sydney.

Nevil Shute, (sometimes spelt Neville Shute), was one of the few authors to capture the essence of Australia, but was he Australian?

No. Nevil Shute was born 1899 in Ealing, London, he wrote 'A Town like Alice' after a visit to Australia, then in 1950 he and his family emigrated there, after his death his ashes were brought back to England and scattered in the Solent.

This brave resistance fighter, saved thousands of lives by helping them to escape Nazi occupied Europe, but was Nancy Wake an Australian?

No. Nancy Wake was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but when she was just 20 months old her family moved to Sydney, Australia. During WWII she joined the French resistance and she was on the Gestapo's most wanted list. They named her 'the white mouse' for they found it impossible to capture her.

Clive James is known as a writer/broadcaster but he is also a world traveller, and his 'postcards' from various countries are always informative and amusing. Is he Australian?

Yes. Clive James, was born in Sydney in 1939.

Joan Sutherland had a wonderful soprano voice, but was she born in Australia?

Yes. Joan Sutherland was born in Sydney. She was created a Dame in 1976, and gave her final performance at the Sydney Opera House in 1990.

Frank Ifield was a very popular singer in the 1960s, perhaps his biggest hit was 'I Remember You', but can you remember if he was Australian?

No. Frank Ifield was born in Coventry, England, the Ifield family moved to Australia in 1948. He was the first person to have three consecutive UK No 1 hits.

Elle MacPherson was known as 'The Body', but was that body born in Australia?

Yes. Elle MacPherson is an Australian. She was born in Sydney in 1964.

Medicine was Colleen McCullough's first love, but after the success of her novel 'The Thorn Birds' an anonymous life spent in medical research was impossible. Was she born in Australia?

Yes. Colleen McCullough was born in Wellington, New South Wales, but now lives on Norfolk Island.

Peter Finch was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of a suicidal newsman in the film 'Network', but was he Australian?

No. Peter Finch was in fact born in London, his family didn't move to Australia until Peter was 10 years old.