The Coat of Arms of Australia

The coat of arms of Australia (formally known as Commonwealth Coat of Arms) is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the sixpenny coin until 1966.

In the top half, from left to right, the states represented are:New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.   In the bottom half, from left to right:South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Above the shield is the seven-pointed Commonwealth Starr or Star of Federation above a blue and gold wreath, forming the crest. Six of the points on the star represent the original six states, while the seventh point represents the combined territories and any future states of Australia. In its entirety the shield represents the federation of Australia.

                                         

The Red Kangaroo and Emu that support the shield are the unofficial animal emblems of the nation. They owe this recognition to the fact that they are native Australian fauna (found only on that continent), and likely chosen because they are the most well-known native Australian animals large enough to be positioned together in scale holding up the shield. It is often claimed these animals were chosen because neither animal can move backward, only forward - i.e. progress. In reality both animals can move backwards, but infrequently do. In the background is wreath of Golden Wattle, the official national floral emblem, though the representation of the species is not botanically accurate] At the bottom of the coat of arms is a scroll that contains the name of the nation. Neither the wreath of wattle nor the scroll are technically part of the official design described on the Royal Warrant that grants the armorial design.

The coat of arms is used to identify Australian government authority and property and accordingly the coat of arms should never be used where it could wrongly imply a formal guarantee, sponsorship or endorsement by the Commonwealth. Use of the arms by private citizens or organisations is rarely permitted; however, there are provisions for use by sporting bodies and in educational publications. The import of goods bearing the arms is also illegal according Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations.. The coat of arms is the basis of the Queen's Personal Australian Flag, and since 1973 a slightly modified version has formed the basis of the Great Seal of Australia.

The Anthem: “Advance Australia Fair”

"Advance Australia Fair" is the official national anthem of Australia. Created by the Scottish-born composer, Peter Dodds McCormick the song was first performed in 1878, but did not gain its status as the official anthem until 1984. Until then, the song was sung in Australia as a patriotic song. In order for the song to become the anthem, it had to face a vote between the Royal anthemGod Save the Queen, the "unofficial anthem"Waltzing Matilda andSong of Australia. Other songs and marches have been influenced by Advance Australia Fair, such as the Australian Vice-Regal salute. Actually" Advance Australia Fair" was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick under the pen-name "Amicus" (which means "friend" in Latin), in the late 19th century, and first performed by Andrew Fairfax at a Highland Society function in Sydney on 30 November 1878. The song quickly gained popularity and an amended version was sung by a choir of 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. In 1907 the Australian Government awarded McCormick £100 for his composition. Before its adoption as Australia's national anthem, Advance Australia Fair saw considerable use elsewhere. For example, Australia's national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission, used it to announce its news bulletins until 1952. It was also frequently played at the start or end of official functions. Towards the end of World War II, it was played in picture theatres after "God Save the Queen" and the American National anthem.

 

TEXT 15

New Zealand

15. Ознакомьтесь с содержанием данного текстового материала и ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What information in the text " New Zealand “seemed interesting for you?

2. What information in the text "The Symbols of New Zealand “seemed interesting for you?

3. When was the first New Zealand's flag adopted?

4. Why do you think it is necessary for students to work individually with additional materials?

 

New Zealand

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. It comprises two large islands (the North and the South Islands) and numerou s smaller islands. New Zealand is separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea. The total land areais 268,680 km². The country has extensive marine resources. The islands are mountainous and are also marked by volcanoes. The highest peak is Mount Cook. The capitalcity is Wellington. The population is about 4.2 ml. New Zealand has three official languages: New Zealand English, the Maori language, and New Zealand Sign Language. In practice only English is widely used. New Zealand has a developed economy and a high standard of living. Principal export industries are agriculture, gardening, fishing, and forestry. Tourism plays a significant role in New Zealand's economy. It contribute s almost 9% to New Zealand’s total GDP. The most developed industries are machinery, textile, furniture, and food industry. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand. The Queen’s position is largely symbolic. She is represented by the Governor-General. Political power is held by the Parliament of New Zealand and the Prime Minister. The legislature is represented by Parliament, which has only one chamber, the House of Representatives. Parliamentary general elections are held every three years. The leading political parties of the country are the Labour Party, the New Zealand First, the Conservative Party of New Zealand and others. The Prime Minister is the leader of Parliament as well as the head of the Government. The Cabinet is the senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council. The Executive Council is a formal committee of all the Crown ministers. New Zealand's judiciary includes the Supreme Court of New Zealand (the highest court); the High Court; the Court of Appeal; and subordinate courts.New Zealand is a member of the following geopolitical organisations: APEC, East Asia Summit, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.

The Flag of New Zealand

The current flag was designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the national flag in 1902. It is the British Blue Ensign, incorporating a stylized representation of the Southern Cross showing the four brightest stars in the constellation. Each star varies slightly in size. The Union Flag in the canton recalls New Zealand's colonial ties to Britain. The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with theUnion Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross.