"B" is for Birdsville Track Quiz | Mixed Australia

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following films did Bruce Beresford NOT direct?

Answer: Mad Max

"Mad Max" was made in Australia in 1979 and directed by George Miller II. It starred Mel Gibson and it was his second movie.

Bruce Beresford was born in 1940 in Sydney, New South Wales. "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie" was directed in 1972 and was his first major film he directed. "Don's Party" was in 1976 and he directed "Breaker Morant" in 1979.

Bruce Beresford directed "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1989. Numerous awards were generated by "Driving Miss Daisy". At the Oscars in 1990, Jessica Tandy won "Best Actress in a Leading Role", and at 81 became the oldest person to win an Oscar. The other categories it won in were: "Best Makeup", "Best Picture" and "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium". The nominated divisions were: "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Morgan Freeman), "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (Dan Aykroyd), "Best Art Direction-Set Decoration" , "Best Costume Design" and "Best Film Editing".

2. Billy tea should be brewed in a certain way, so the "bushies" say. Traditionally, what should a person do before they pour it?

Answer: Whilst it is still boiling swing it around in huge round arm arcs

Apart from swinging the can around, a gum leaf should be added to enhance the flavour.

3. Name the musical TV show that was produced from 1958 to 1972, that was hosted by Brian Henderson.

Answer: Bandstand

Australian singers such as the Delltones, Col Joye and the Joy Boys, and the Bee Gees appeared on this show, especially popular amongst the teenagers of that era.

4. What is being described: "When you're beyond the ________ __________ you've officially left civilisation behind. A mystical object, few people ever see it, but they know when they're past it." H G Nelson in "True Blue".

Answer: Black Stump

It is mostly commonly used in phrases as "this (or the other) side of the black stump" or "past the black stump". Basically it means the "Back of Beyond", in another words - deep in the bush or isolated country.

5. This TV series was produced during 1974-77 and shown on Channel 10. It was centred around a "workplace" within the entertainment business.

Answer: The Box

"The Box" was supposed to be a comedy drama series, which depicted life inside a television station channel. Some of the actors were Briony Behets, Belinda Giblin, Ken James (but not Skippy), George Mallaby and Tracey Mann.

"Bellbird" is the only other real TV show in the above choices. It was seen on the ABC during the years 1967-1979.

6. In 1919, a sighting of a Bunyip in the Blue Mountains (New South Wales) was reported in "The Age".

Answer: False

The Bunyip is a mythological creature. It has been described in many ways, one of which is an amphibious monster that lives in the waterways of Australia, which eats cattle, humans and other creatures. Some people have declared they have seen them, but they cannot produce any evidence nor has the Bunyip left any.

7. Of the following choices, which is a fictional bushranger?

Answer: Gentleman Harry

Captain Moonlite (correct spelling) was Andrew Scott. Born in 1845 in Ireland and hung in 1880 in Australia. He was a clergyman by day but a bushranger by night. Mad Dan Morgan was born in 1833 (NSW) and shot by police on 9th April 1865. He is often regarded as Australia's most brutal bushranger.

He called himself Morgan after the pirate Henry Morgan. Captain Thunderbolt or Fred Ward was born in 1836 (NSW) and shot by police in 1870. He avoided violence and thus he had one of the longest bushranger "careers".

8. "Black Wednesday" was used for a certain day, after an event involving the Berry Ministry in Victoria. What year did "Black Wednesday" occur in?

Answer: 1878

The event was the dismissal of several hundred public servants. This was due to "The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council had reached a deadlock over reform of the latter and payment of members. The Legislative Council had refused to pass the Appropriation Bill (which included provision for payment of members). Berry claimed that he could not pay those dismissed, because his government had not been voted funds, but he was not unwilling to attack his opponents.

Some of those dismissed were later reinstated". (The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Australian History by Jan Bassett.)

9. This event/era occurred in cricket between the years of 1932-33 but banned in 1935. People involved included Jardine and Larwood. It was called the (what) "______________ Series".

Answer: Bodyline

The "Bodyline Series" was played between England and Australia. Jardine was the English captain and Woodfull was the Australian; and Larwood was the English bowler concerned.

"Bodyline" bowling was fast with short-pitched deliveries coupled with fieldsmen strategically placed for catches. Australians believed that England intentionally aimed at the batsman's body so to hit them, instead of the wicket. Ultimately the batsman had a choice between defending his body and risk being caught out when he hits with the bat, or risk being hit by the ball and still remain 'in'. It was thought by Australians that it was instigated to curb Bradman's high scoring rate.

This caused considerable strain between England and Australia's international relationship. England won the series.

10. Which of the following is a major mining town in New South Wales?

Answer: Broken Hill

Bendigo and Ballarat are in Victoria; Burnie is in Tasmania. Broken Hill is approximately 1100 km west of Sydney. Silver, lead and zinc were found in this area during the 1870's. Broken Hill is also known as "The Silver City".

11. What is a Bex?

Answer: Pain killer

There is a saying; "Going to have a Bex" - meaning you are going to calm down from some sort of stress. Barry Humphries made famous the great Aussie remedy of "a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down".

12. A lady, named Ita, has been voted twice the "Most Admired Woman in Australia". She was born in 1942. What is her surname?

Answer: Buttrose

Ita Buttrose was born in 1942. Ms Buttrose was the founding editor of "Cleo" in 1972; a director of Australian Consolidated Press in 1974; Editor of "Women's Weekly" in 1975; and the youngest editor of the "Daily" and "Sunday Times".

She has been awarded an "Order of the British Empire" for services to journalism and also an "Order of Australia" for services to the community in medical education and health care.

13. Though the members (three brothers) of this band lived for many years in the USA, they grew up in Australia. They had minor hits in the 1960s but it was not until the 1970s they had their smash hit single "Stayin' Alive". Who are they?

Answer: The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees have sold more than 110 million records (2002) which makes them the 5th most successful artists in pop history. In addition, in Britain they are the only artists who have had number one hits over four decades (1960's - 1990's).

The Bee Gees consisted of Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. They were born on the Isle of Man (UK). Maurice Gibb died in 2003 in Florida, USA, from a cardiac arrest.

14. Who am I? I have been a cricket captain. In 1994 I became the highest run scorer in Australia. I also achieved the rare distinction of making 150 runs in both innings of a Test.

Answer: Allan Border

Allan Border was born on 27th July 1955. He made his debut in Melbourne (1978-79) and his last game was in Durban (1993-94). In 2002, he was named the person who has made the most runs worldwide. His career record states that he scored 11,174 runs in 156 Tests (av 50.56) between the years 1978 and 1994.

15. What plague occurred from January 1900 to 1910. Approximately 1200 cases were reported, mostly in Sydney, but there were outbreaks in other states.

Answer: Bubonic Plague

The Bubonic Plague is an infectious disease caused by fleas which are carried by rats. In 1900 Sydney was quarantined and this outbreak caused a huge 'clean-up' and where the garbage, silt and sewerage was cleared, slums demolished and tens of thousands of rats were destroyed.

16. A "Bush Tucker" menu does NOT include which of the following?

Answer: Gum Leaves

Goannas are a protected species in all of Australia now; therefore, do not expect this to be on the menu in a bush tucker restaurant. Goanna is still included as bush tucker item as many Aboriginals - who live traditionally - still include them in their diet.

A modern day recipe based on Bush Tucker is Moth Damper. The recipe is: A generous handful of moths, 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup SR flour, 1 cup powdered milk, 1/4 tsp raising agent, water. Crush up moths with powdered milk. Mix in all other dry ingredients. Add water to make stiff dough and roll into a ball. Flatten ball to a height of 2.5cm. Lightly flour surface and cook in ash/camp oven. Serve hot. Delicious with witchetty grub soup - so they say!

17. Who were we? Children loved us. We were celebrities and did TV and live performances. We were basically all yellow and our names consisted of a letter and number.

Answer: Bananas in Pyjamas

B1 and B2 are their names and they were dressed in pyjamas. They originated from "Play School". They were so popular that they have their own toy range and videos.

18. What is the surname of Daisy May O'Dwyer Hunt. She worked in London as a journalist and was sent to Australia by "The Times". Daisy spent 35 years with the Aborigines studying their customs, legends and language. Her nickname was "Kabbarli". She wrote a book about her study which was published in 1938.

Answer: Bates

Daisy Bates was an anthropologist and welfare worker. She lived in Australia from 1884 to 1894 and worked as a governess. She then lived in England from 1894 to 1899, doing journalism. Returned to Australia in 1899 to live with Aborigines in Western Australia and South Australia. She died in Adelaide in 1951.

19. This town has the same name as an explorer and is located in the Blue Mountains near Katoomba. It is the site of an existing stone-arch bridge that was built in the early 1800s.

Answer: Blaxland

Blaxland is situated 67km from Sydney. In 2001, it had a population of approximately 10,000. It was named after Gregory Blaxland who was an explorer. The bridge is the Lennox Bridge and it was built in 1833.

20. When adding the total amount of kilometres of each state's or territory's border lines, which one has the most?

Answer: New South Wales

The amounts (in their ranking order) are:
New South Wales - 4,635 km
Queensland - 3,339 km
South Australia - 3,185 km
Northern Territory - 3,179 km

Source: Author Auszev

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"B" is for Birdsville Track Trivia Quiz

Objects, places, people, etc., of Australia that is connected somehow to the letter B. The Birdsville Track was originally a 500km stock route between Maree (SA) and Birdsville (Qld).

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>