Friday, September 2, 2011

The Aussie Goody Bag

First of all... if your name is Stephanie Holden, STOP READING NOW! This is meant to be a surprise.

For the rest of mah peeps, I need your help.

I'm sending my US friend a box of things that are quintissentially Australian. I'm not sure I can fit in a kangaroo, and meat pies are probably out, but I'm thinking I want it to be so much more than a jar of Vegemite. That will more than likely freak her out, as it does most Americans. Because ur doing it rong. White toast, lots of butter, a scrape of Vegemite - anything else is likely to kill a man.

Anyway, I'm going more along the lines of this:
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The most obvious, but probably the best. And this is coming from somebody that used to rarely eat chocolate. And biscuits. I've heard of people doing weird things like biting each end off and sucking their coffee through it... I ain't never done that and I'm not sure I would. But I'd definitely have trouble stopping myself from eating a whole packet.


I don't know anybody that didn't wear this growing up. This is so early high school for me, so Australian. One sniff and I'm instantly transported to muggy lunchtimes playing handball, eating sausage rolls and bemoaning my double maths coming up next. 


What's an Aussie goody bag without a Freddo? And a Caramello Koala? And probably a Furry Friend or two...


I once talked to a Canadian fellow whose mother was Australian. When he came over for a year to live and work, she demanded he supply her with as many Cherry Ripes as he could send home. I understand this.



Now before you go all Violet Crumble on me, I have to say Crunchies are better. Violet Crumbles are too hard and I don't like their chocolate. Crunchie = 1, Violet Crumble = 0.


Australis makeup. I remember my ma buying a whole bunch once (which was a big deal, as we were poor. Actually, as Oprah says, you were either poor, or po'. We were po'.) and received a free t-shirt. I wore that t-shirt one day and all the bullies left me alone for once. It was that popular, haha


Again, I could never afford these, but used to get old ones from op shops. And Girlfriend magazine. There was nothing better than going through a Dolly Doctor or two with a bunch of friends and dying of either embarrasment or hilarity. Often both. I'm sad they make them up now. I used to spend my hard-earned babysitting money on TV Hits magazine instead of Dolly because they had better posters of Edward Furlong and silverchair. True story.


Sure they're never going to be as good as homemade, but what can you do?


When I was a kid, it was imperative that you eat these WITH a chocolate paddle pop. You took a burger ring (after putting them on each finger and waggling around being an idiot), and you scraped it up the side to get a little layer of chocolate ice cream. Then you ate it.



So think back to your Aussie childhoods... what did you HAVE to have? Help a brother out here!


8 comments:

  1. Burger rings and chocolate. Together. That's freaking disgusting!

    But you're right about the vegemite thing. The rest of the world doesn't get it because they are doing it (w)rong (can't bring myself to write it like that,lol. My mother would roll over in her grave).

    Um. Lets see, what else. I'm thinking our ages are different. Because Silverchair didn't happen until I was well and truly grown up, married I think. (Just checked. Not quite married, but well and truly out of school). And I was blowing my money on Rugby League Weeks (though I snuck a look at other girl's Dolly's).

    Redskins? Do you remember them? Those lolly things? They were like 5c when I was in school. I don't know that they're necessarily Australian, but a strong high school memory. http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?s=75064c7cffdec8a27f52e7677f500444&p=22095183&postcount=215

    Ok. Am really no help to you at all, it seems. I can't think of things you could send in a box (I mean, the Australian Cricket Team and the casts of Home and Away and Neighbours might not comply?).

    Good luck. Will be watching this with interest.

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  2. Did you go to school together? becuase you could make a mixed tape (ok, a CD or MP3list) of heaps of songs from those years.

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  3. You can get crunchies everywhere! Go the violet crumble!
    Also, Carmello Koalas are a must!

    Redskins, Fantails and sherberts!
    Also, musk sticks!

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  4. Get My First Vegemite... Way milder but still tastes like Vegemite.

    How about Kit Kats, Eucalyptus drops, Twisties, Fruit Tingles, 100's & 1000's & directions to make fairy bread (apparently we're the only ones that have it), Macadamia Nuts, BBQ Shapes

    (can you tell I've done this before?!)

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  5. Where is that Lucus' Paw Paw ointment from? I LOVE that. I think you're on to a winner with Burger rings. For sure.

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  6. Mixed lollies - bananas, milk bottles, raspberries, strawberries & cream, mint leaves, cobbers (caramel covered in choc)... Hubba bubba, lamington recipe (b/c the real thing may not post so well), a scrunchie. Hope this helps!

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  7. Don't forget the Pavlova in an egg! I regularly send the Aussie Gift Packet back to rellies in the States. Minties are also a must. And I take it by Dolly that an Australian Women's Weekly is too "old" for the recipient. And what about some Lanolin cream or Emu Oil?

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  8. OMG! This list is gold! I can totally relate to just about everything on the list. Impulse fragrances, Dolly Mag, TV hits, Australis cosmetics, Burger Rings (one on each and every finger)...pure gold! Was going to say Minties and Fantails (always bring these back to Singapore with us after visits to Australia) but seems someone else has already mentioned them and the mixed lollies ($1 at the local Milk Bar) and the Eucalyptus drops. What about LifeSavers? Or a Bonds Hoodie? Or one of those t-shirts everyone had in the early 90s that changed colour when you touched them?

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